Outcomes aren’t the answer if they risk slipping into “PR with spreadsheets” territory, says Ian Whittaker. With MNC attention tilting West, APAC marketers must link investment to earnings confidence and cashflow strength.
True
ian whittaker
Why cutting brand spend is the corporate equivalent of cutting defence budgets
ian whittaker
oped
performance marketing
Just as Europe is relearning that security cannot be bought on the fly, Ian Whittaker argues that slashing brand spend isn't fiscal discipline, it's corporate disarmament.
Hammers and nails: The problems with WPP’s new strategy
ian whittaker
wpp
Cindy Rose has steadied WPP in the short term, observes Ian Whittaker, but has the tech-heavy strategy overlooked the strengths that once made it great?
Warner Bros. Discovery is up for sale. Who will buy it?
apple
editors picks
ian whittaker
netflix
paramount
thelongview
warner bros discovery
wbd sale
WBD’s announcement to explore strategic alternatives sent the stock price up 10%. The suitors are circling, but how many are really ready to bite?
Why advertisers should be wary of pinning their hopes on AI
ai hype
aritificial intelligence
generative ai
ian whittaker
OpEd: The billions of dollars of tech investments has made the ad world very good at producing bad average or good average content; a dangerous game for an industry paid to be brilliant and stand out.
Buckle up for the ride as agency world will look significantly different in two years
Dentsu
ian whittaker
mea
mergers and acquisitions
thebigconsolidation
A change of CEO at WPP and a potential sale of Dentsu’s international business are just two signs that major change is coming to the global agency sector.
It's a year of shake-ups in APAC adland
havas
ian whittaker
ipg
wpp
As full-year results roll in, some agencies are gaining momentum while others face headwinds. And with China’s downturn forcing a rethink, where will the next wave of growth come from? Ian Whittaker pens down his thoughts.
What to do about China? The question facing many Western advertisers
china
ian whittaker
As China’s economic outlook dims and consumer confidence falters, global advertisers face a tough decision: Keep waiting for a rebound or shift focus to more reliable markets?
The politics of trade and its impact on advertising
ian whittaker
meta
trade
The US-China trade spat is shaking up industries worldwide. With billions at stake, what does it mean for major online platforms in APAC?
Macroeconomic issues or a fall from grace? Explaining WPP's weakness in China
china
earnings report
ian whittaker
wpp
With WPP's 24% revenue drop in China among a revised guidance issued for the group, is the decline purely driven by macroeconomic factors or could wider issues be at play? Ian Whittaker explores.
Q1 agency metrics: A closer look at financial patterns and APAC performance
Dentsu
earnings season
havas
ian whittaker
omnicom media group
Publicis
wpp
In examining Q1 earnings closely, analyst Ian Whittaker finds common denominators: the resounding success that India boasts and the persistent challenges that China poses—both are shaping agency-holding companies’ performance in the region.
What do you do if you're Dentsu?
advertising
Dentsu
earnings
ian whittaker
media buying
opinion
As a growing divergence in financial performance between Japan and the rest of the world emerges, Ian Whittaker explores if it's time for Dentsu to evaluate whether or not to keep its international assets.
Will 2024 in China be much the same as 2023?
china
ian whittaker
luxury marketing
meta
microsoft
nike
shein
temu
Where companies could once rely on China to be the "engine room for growth" when it comes to regional revenues, recent economic pressures and consumer spend data are now indicating otherwise. Ian Whittaker opines.
Exporting to the West: The growing presence of Asia-Pacific ad spend worldwide
advertising
apac
ian whittaker
meta
The implication is clear: Advertisers in the region are aggressively advertising outside their home continents. So, where is this ad spend coming from, and how will it shape the future of not just APAC, but companies worldwide? Ian Whittaker explores.
‘Chexit’: Is there a scenario where the agency groups leave China?
agencies
china
ian whittaker
wpp
In light of the recent WPP raids in Shanghai, Ian Whittaker raises the question: Will pressure from investors eventually force agency groups to consider exiting the Chinese market?
India's advertising market soars, but can it elevate the global agency groups?
ian whittaker
As the eighth-largest advertising market, India's importance in volume, revenue, and innovation cannot be ignored. Ian Whittaker analyses if current contributions to global agency groups fall short of expectations.
Inflation vs. advertising: The battle for companies' bottom lines
advertising
ian whittaker
inflation
Rising prices threaten profitability, but in lean times, you wouldn't pause building a factory; why is brand-spend any different? Ian Whittaker reminds advertisers looking for long-term gains to not give in to the ‘penny wise, pound foolish’ savings siren.