In a wide-ranging interview with Campaign Asia, global CMO John Ehrnst talks through the end of bland retail, what drives Gen Z back into stores, and why Asian insights now sit at the heart of the Swedish giant's strategy—and why, even now, everything begins with the product.
TODAY'S EDITION
03/18/2026
Latest
Coach and Kate Spade parent taps Dentsu to consolidate APAC media business
Exclusive: The three-year mandate spans brand and performance media planning and buying.
Omnicom Media appoints new OMD global leader
Ellen Griffin succeeds George Manas, who has been promoted to chief growth and solutions officer of Omnicom.
The Iran war will not hit APAC advertising the way many assume
‘China is still the strategic variable,’ Whittaker writes, as a more fragmented APAC advertising landscape could blunt the risk of a single shock hitting all markets equally.
Hakuhodo appoints ASEAN regional COO and Vietnam group president
Naoyuki Kawakita steps in as ASEAN COO, with Yuta Sasaki set to take over as Vietnam group president.
Why the ChatGPT uninstall wave is a brand story, not a tech story
When a defence contract determines whether people will use that AI, we have moved beyond features. Something deeper is happening, opines Sanat Sinha.
Call for entries: Campaign Asia-Pacific’s 2026 Power List
The recognition will spotlight marketers who drive innovation, shape consumer behaviour, and redefine the game. Know a trailblazer leading the charge or think it’s your time to shine? Nominate now.
Serviceplan Group steps into Asia’s media market, launching Mediaplus Singapore
Exclusive: The new joint venture with The Media Shop gives the media arm of Europe’s largest independent agency network a new Singapore-based hub from which to expand regionally.
Toby Hack joins Kepler as APAC and EMEA CEO
Exclusive: Longtime PHD executive steps into the role following the exit of Mallory Simmonds, who previously led Kepler’s APAC and EMEA business.
Lego turns Shanghai train line into Formula 1 scavenger hunt for Chinese Grand Prix
The train line heading to the Shanghai International Circuit was a colourful 'Build The Thrill' activation.
Why marketing needs a more human story of health
Wellness marketing in Asia often glorifies perfection. Stuart A Spencer argues brands should focus on everyday progress if they want to make healthier lives feel possible.
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AI is a marketer’s best ally: how to win by harnessing human creativity
The remarkable data-crunching power of AI has rewritten the rules of marketing. But as two of the region’s most celebrated marketing leaders explain, it leaves the profession with a critical quandary – how to avoid just doing more of the same, faster, and instead practice the sort of ‘creative bravery’ that leads to outstanding results
Why in-housing is redefining brand control across the world
OUT NOW: Campaign Red’s latest market report 'The Inside Job'
What do you do all day?
Ahead of Mother's Day a freelance director writes about her experience as a new mother.
Ray-Ban owner consolidates global media duties into Publicis Groupe
WPP Media and Publicis Groupe managed the majority of media duties before the consolidation, Campaign understands.
Why the messy middle of the 'sandwich years' makes the best leaders
The sandwich years are hard. Parenting, parents and a high-pressure professional role, all at the same time.
Ikea contacts agencies about global media review
The retailer’s global media planning and buying account is currently with Dentsu’s iProspect.
Publicis Groupe acquires creative analytics platform AdgeAI
AI platform measures creative performance.
Creative Minds: Suong Nguyen crashed a client lunch and turned it into a 17-year ad career
After spending over a decade cutting her teeth at Grey and Cheil, Nguyen founded the indie shop Bgency in her hometown, Ho Chi Minh City.
OPINIONS
Why the messy middle of the 'sandwich years' makes the best leaders
The sandwich years are hard. Parenting, parents and a high-pressure professional role, all at the same time.
WPP's Elevate28 is a white flag, not a victory flag
The $676 million savings plan is an exercise in juniorisation, centralisation and using AI as a shield to cut senior staff, writes a veteran of the "now-defunct holdco model."
Why age diversity still struggles for airtime?
Too many people plan their exit from advertising by 40, convinced experience has an expiry date—an outdated bias, one agency founder says it's time to dismantle.
The problem with 'women-focused' marketing
Almost 70% of women don't feel confident by the way marketing portrays them. Brands need to stop looking at women as a neat little segment.
Alvin Neo: Employees over 50 remember fundamentals, having learnt the hard way
With the deadline for Campaign's 50 Over Fifty list for 2026 approaching, one of Singapore's most prominent CMOs who won the recognition last year, explains how a healthy ' bullshit radar' can give senior professionals an advantage if also open to learn.
Why hesitation might be women's most valuable AI skill
The world doesn't need more people racing toward an AI future without stopping to ask what kind of future it actually is.
If you want transformative work, stop benchmarking the average
In a bell-curve industry, excellence is statistically rare. Darren Woolley argues that benchmarking the average almost guarantees mediocrity.
Women have been giving for years. Where is the gain?
IWD 2026: For decades, women have given time, labour and emotional energy in exchange for the promise of progress. Charu Srivastava says it’s time that generosity delivers real authority and access.