Omnicom PR names APAC, EMEA and Canada chiefs in global reset
New regional CEOs will report to global boss Chris Foster as the group tightens governance after the IPG deal.
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McDonald’s CEO mocked for awkward burger taste test. How can he embrace the roast?
The exec appeared reluctant to eat the new Big Arch burger and referred to it as a ‘product.’
Mastercard CMO Raja Rajamannar steps down, Accenture’s Jill Kramer takes over
Effective December 1, Rajamannar will step down after serving in the role for 12 years.
Edelman makes global leadership changes
Mainardo de Nardis takes over as global president and COO next week as Matthew Harrington moves to executive vice-chair role and Brian Buchwald becomes president of global transformation and performance.
Former and current executives sue top US ad agency Horizon Media alleging discrimination
Horizon Media is facing federal allegations from a current and former executive claiming the company’s claimed dedication to DEI masks a culture of bias, retaliation, and hostile treatment by its senior leaders.
When brands become the villain: Lessons from Coffee Mate's 'White Lotus' collab
The Nestlé product’s team was as surprised as anyone at the HBO show’s season finale. Here’s how brands and their agency partners avoid shocking plot twists involving their products.
Porsche deletes post on Threads that said ‘9.11 is my favourite time of the day’
Some social media managers are defending Porsche’s post, saying it clearly did not allude to the 9/11 attack on the United States.
Duolingo comms head Sam Dalsimer leads 'wholesome unhinged' strategy
Duolingo killed off its brand mascot and brought it back to life as part of an unhinged social media strategy and more wholesome comms approach.
FleishmanHillard hires Ketchum’s Jim Joseph as global head of brand impact
Joseph previously held roles at Ketchum such as US CEO and global CMO.
Allison Worldwide names Ray Day executive chair as Scott Allison steps back
Vice chair Andy Hardie-Brown is also leaving his role for an advisory position.
Publicis Media dismisses dozens of US employees for violations of return-to-office policy
The job eliminations were focused in the French holding company’s media division.
Ebay names Gigi Ganatra Duff as new CCO
Duff joins the online marketplace from Nordstrom, where she was VP of corporate affairs.
Burson launches healthcare-focused AI service
Decipher Health will predict the impact of communications across six therapeutic areas, the WPP firm says.
Burson launches healthcare-focused AI service
Decipher Health will predict the impact of communications across six therapeutic areas, the WPP firm says.
The inside story of the Kamala Harris-inspired ice cream from Ben & Jerry's co-founders
The flavour is not from Ben & Jerry’s. But that’s not showing up in a lot of media coverage.
Summerween: Why Michaels, Home Depot and General Mills are launching fall campaigns earlier than ever
It’s not just you. Everyone is noticing a lot of orange and spooky stuff in stores while it’s still summer. Here’s why.
Report: X brings on Targeted Victory for comms support
X taps Republican consulting firm Targeted Victory, owned by Stagwell Group, to manage the fallout from its suspension in Brazil, according to Wired.
Dow Jones ups Ashok Sinha to chief communications officer
Sinha oversaw communications efforts and media exposure throughout the wrongful detention of WSJ’s Evan Gershkovich in Russia.
How content creators can brush up on trademark law to protect their catchphrases
Poaching a catchphrase is not very demure and certainly not very mindful. Here’s how influencers can protect themselves.
JJ Carter to succeed John Saunders as FleishmanHillard CEO
Saunders will become the firm’s chairman in October and plans to move back to his native Ireland.
How these six brands are collaborating with ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’
The characters are everywhere, toning down the film’s R-rated humor for brands.
Burson hires Damion Potter as global chair of public affairs
Potter joins from Haleon, where he was VP and global head of policy and government affairs.
17 business leaders react to Trump assassination attempt
CEOs rushed to social media to condemn the shooting after staying quiet about politics for most of this election cycle.
What vibes is the Toys 'R' Us AI ad giving you?
The toy brand's short film, which premiered at Cannes and was created almost entirely on OpenAI’s new text-to-video tool, has sparked online backlash from creatives.
X appoints Nick Pickles to lead global communications
The social media platform is expanding Pickles’ role as global head of government affairs to include comms.
Burson launches ahead of schedule
Burson—created from the merger of WPP-owned BCW and Hill & Knowlton, which is due to be formally completed on 1 July—launched on June 13, unveiling its new brand identity and client offerings.
How health influencers Nadya Okamoto and Dr Mike approach social media
Both shared their strategies—and platform likes and dislikes—at the PRWeek Healthcare Awards+Conference.
Bumble removes ‘vow of celibacy’ ads following backlash
Bumble said it has heard criticism of the ad and is removing it from a global campaign.
TikTok global comms head exits
Hilary McQuaide says she is leaving the platform for “a new adventure.”
Apple's 'Crush' ad elicits backlash from marketing and PR pros
“This Apple ad is what happens when you try to be ‘edgy’ with no consideration for strategy,” said Lulu Cheng Meservey.
BCW, Hill & Knowlton warns staffers to brace for layoffs related to Burson merger
The firms have “identified areas in the business where we must eliminate roles, many of which were duplicate,” staffers were told in a memo.
Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis is another reminder for social media managers to think before posting
Brands joked this week about “spotting” Kate, who hadn’t been seen in public for months.
Brands were not ready for Taylor Swift's new album announcement
Some tried to get ahead of the announcement and got it wrong.
Jonathan Heit replaces Scott Allison as Allison global CEO
The agency has also formed a new global board with co-founder Andy Hardie-Brown becoming vice chairman with a focus on strategic growth initiatives, and business in Asia-Pacific.
What other brand should have an edible mascot?
Pop-Tarts allowed their mascot to be devoured as part of its sponsorship of an American college football match.
Coca-Cola hires Meta's Katherina Jawaharlal to lead global corporate, brand PR
She previously built and ran Meta’s partnership communications team.
South Australian Tourism Commission names Praytell North America PR agency of record
The agency will share stories about the region’s native wildlife, wine and outback experiences.
Hill+Knowlton Strategies returns to original name of Hill & Knowlton
The firm has also created services that address evolving client needs.
Why every organisation needs a ‘disability guy’
Authentic representation is important for every company, experts said at PRWeek's PRDecoded Purpose+ conference in the US.
How Colgate is getting consumers to confess the lies they tell dentists
For two days in New York City, people can come clean in the brand’s Totally Honest confessional.
How Microsoft is changing its comms function because of AI
The company is also updating its team to keep pace with the speed of news, including bringing in former Twitter APAC comms lead Lauren Myers-Cavanagh to head its Asia comms.
Royal Caribbean Group names Heather Hust Rivera global communications head
Hust Rivera has worked in various comms roles for Disney since 2005.
Trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney bashes Bud Light for not publicly standing by her
“I was waiting for the brand to reach out to me, but they never did,” she said.
McDonald’s Grimace ‘pretending not to see’ shake trend
Other brands are lending moral support to the mascot, as TikTokers pretend that drinking the purple shake leads to horrific outcomes.
Edelman launches global B2B marketing group
It aims to create integrated marketing programs aimed at reaching and earning the trust of B2B buyers.
Don’t expect sponsors to flee pro golf after the PGA Tour-LIV merger, say experts
One has a 'gut feeling' most people won’t care about the merger, while others say sponsors will have to make tough decisions.
No, Tony the Tiger and Dylan Mulvaney are not working together
Some conservatives threatened to boycott the brand after its mascot was seen with the trans influencer at the Tony Awards on Sunday night. The brand says there’s no partnership.
Target ranked as top brand in support of LGBTQIA+ community
The survey took place after Target removed some items from its Pride merchandise following a backlash.
What’s the best time to post on social media? The answer has changed since just last year
Sprout Social’s 2023 Best Times to Post on Social Media report shows that consumer behavior has shifted a lot in one year.
Anheuser-Busch: 'No truth' to report Bud Light fired agency responsible for Dylan Mulvaney partnership
The brewer was said to have told beer distributors last week that it fired a ‘third-party ad agency.’
‘Not a formal campaign’: AB InBev distances from Dylan Mulvaney outreach
The maker of Bud Light also said it will pay a $500 bonus to workers who were harassed over Mulvaney’s video, but will continue to support LGBTQ+ organisations.
Was that toothpaste on the Met Gala carpet? Here’s how Colgate responded
The toothpaste brand joked that it didn’t expect to “be the carpet."
Alphabet’s X hires Impossible Foods alum Jessica Appelgren as it builds out marcomms team
X works to invent and launch breakthrough technologies and businesses to solve major problems.
Coca-Cola-focused WPP Open X names Andrew Keller global chief creative officer
Keller has worked at Meta for the last seven years and at CP+B.
‘One of a kind’: Weber Shandwick New York chief creative officer Angela Mears dies at age 35
Mears started at the agency as an intern in 2011.
TikTok's comms team tweets through CEO testimony to Congress
TikTok’s head of policy comms for the Americas clarified points made by CEO Shou Zi Chew during Thursday’s hearing.
Silicon Valley Bank deletes Twitter page
The move comes after the bank’s collapse.
Edelman global revenue up 12.8% in 2022 to $1.1 billion
APAC revenue increased by 4.8% on a constant currency basis to $104.5 million.
Why TikTok is not the place to be for brands during the Super Bowl
Before and after the game are a different story as brands “scratch the surface” of what they can do on the platform for big events.
‘People got up in arms’: The inside story on A&W’s tweet parodying M&M’s
Who would get mad about a bear mascot wearing jeans? Turns out, a lot of people.
BCW global CEO Donna Imperato to retire
Imperato, who has led the firm since the combination of Burson-Marsteller and Cohn & Wolfe, will step down once her successor is found.
PRSA condemns Twitter suspensions: ‘Journalists should not be penalised for sharing accurate reporting’
Journalism organisations, publications and PR pros are also voicing concern over the suspensions.
CCO Alan VanderMolen leaves SC Johnson
The former international president at WE Communications worked at the company since March 2020.
Russia puts Richard Edelman and other global PR CEOs on latest sanctions list
Leaders from APCO Worldwide, SKDK, Brunswick and other firms were among the 200 to be sanctioned.
A break, not a break up: Why agencies are telling clients not to abandon Twitter… yet
Things at Twitter under Elon Musk are weird. Very weird. But not enough for brands to say goodbye to the platform.
Hellmann’s creates hub inspired by viral TikTok recipes
The mayonnaise brand is using social media trends to tout its products.
Twitter to form content moderation council; Elon Musk says no reinstatements until then
The council will determine content decisions and account reinstatements, owner Elon Musk said.
Which candy brand has the best Halloween 2022 invention?
Reese’s, Airheads and Kit Kat are getting creative this Halloween season.
Method hires Martin Harkin as global business development head
Harkin started in the newly created role on August 9, reporting to David Parkinson, Method cofounder and CEO.
Instagram responds to 'precise location' user concerns
Instagrammers are concerned that their location could be made public.
Hill+Knowlton hires Randa Stephan as first chief marketing and comms officer
She has worked at Weber Shandwick for the past eight years.
HyperSocial’s CEO is sorry for how ‘crying’ LinkedIn post was perceived, but isn’t deleting it
Braden Wallake says good has come from the post, despite the criticism.
SoulCycle wants Peloton customers to trade in their bikes for 47 in-person classes
Virtual workouts can’t replace the energy of live ones, according to SoulCycle CEO Evelyn Webster.
Dxtra agencies reporting to IPG CEO Philippe Krakowsky after Polansky retirement
The holding company is not planning to replace the recently retired Dxtra CEO.
PR Lions again dominated by creative firms, Edelman wins Bronze
Edelman won its metal for National Grid’s Green Light Signal campaign in the UK. It also won in the Creative Data and Media categories, and Prime Weber Shandwick won Bronze in the Direct category.
McDonald’s names new global media relations, leadership comms leads
Artemis Bakopoulos Hiss and Jesse Lewin are switching roles.
How Kraft Heinz is marketing cheese-scented nail polish
Pinkies Out Polish launched on Tuesday morning and sold out just hours later. The brand says it’s part of a lifestyle, not a stunt.
Weber Shandwick promotes Angela Mears to global ECD
Mears will lead work on the firm’s Airbnb, McDonald’s and Ingka accounts.
Finn Partners, fischerAppelt, SPRG and Adfactors PR launch four-year scholarship program
The goal of the Future Communicator Foundation Scholarship program is to advance comms skills around social justice.
Uptick in boomerang employees puts spotlight on agency culture
The grass isn’t always greener. Five people share why they left — and then returned — to their previous PR agencies.
Interpublic, Omnicom CEOs condemn Texas elementary school mass shooting
Omnicom CEO John Wren also said the holding company supports ‘common sense gun legislation.’
Alopecia organisations, influencers use Chris Rock’s Oscars joke as education tool
Advocates are using social media and traditional media outreach to ensure the public learns more about the disease.
Why Burger King put poop on its menu
Well, Poop Emoji Ice Cream…
Ketchum sheds owned operations in Russia
The Omnicom Group agency’s Moscow office will no longer be part of the Ketchum-owned network.
George Bryant elevated to Golin group chief creative officer
He will oversee global creative operations for Golin, The Brooklyn Brothers, Virgo Health and DeVries Global.
How Coinbase stole Pepsi's thunder as the most-talked about brand during the Super Bowl
Even though Coinbase’s website wasn’t ready for its own success.
Adidas defends decision to tweet image of bare breasts
There appeared to be two schools of thought surrounding the campaign: Controversy around the blurring of nipples in the Instagram version of the ad as well as the use of bare breasts as 'titillation'.
Behind the scenes of pharmaceutical giant Sanofi’s rebranding
The France-based company reemerged this week with a new logo — and a new way of thinking about its mission.
TikTok and Nick Tran: What happens when brand stunts miss the mark
Everyone loves a good stunt. But they can get tiresome after a while if they don’t align with a brand’s broader goals.
Chipotle — ahem, make that Chicotle — partners with BTS Twitter stan account to give fans free food
BTS band members professed their love for Chipotle in a viral video over the weekend.
‘Sexy’ doesn’t always sell: M&M’s get positive feedback on mascot changes
The characters’ makeovers spotlight their personalities to reflect an inclusive world.
Peloton halts promotion of Chris Noth ad after sexual assault allegations against actor
The ad was applauded by PR and marketing pros this week for its quick response to Noth’s character dying of cardiac arrest in And Just Like That.
'A masterclass in reactive marketing': Industry pros applaud Peloton's response to Sex and the City reboot death
The fitness company had some help from Ryan Reynolds and his marketing firm Maximum Effort.
Peloton ride on 'Sex & The City' steers brand into damage-control mode
The premiere episode of the reboot of the HBO show in the US sent the fitness brand trending—and its communications team into action.
5 questions for Lush brand director Wendy Kubota after the brand ditched social media
Some call it a publicity stunt, but Lush says it is putting ‘people over profit’ in quitting social media.
Inside the campaign for Reese’s instant sell-out Thanksgiving Pie
Planning for the earned media push for the oversized peanut butter cups in the US started in late summer.
PepsiCo poaches Mars Pet Nutrition CMO Jane Wakely for key marketing role
Wakely worked at Mars for 20 years in various marketing leadership roles.
Longtime Weber Shandwick chairman Jack Leslie to retire in March
Leslie has held the role of chairman at Weber for more than 20 years since the merger of Bozell Sawyer Miller Group and Weber Shandwick in 2001.
Red Havas consolidates Havas PR capabilities, expands globally
PR services that were under Havas Health & You and Havas Creative have been combined into one network under Red Havas, which now expands to China and other markets.
Hotels.com is seeking a 'Bath Boss' to save hotel bathtubs from extinction
Successful applicant will embark on a 'Tour de Tub' of hotel properties in New York City.