[Marketing week] Bob Koigi: Brands embrace innovative offerings to meet clients’ needs

As the needs of clients evolve, inspired by the dynamics of technology and a fast-moving globe, brands and agencies are looking at innovative ways to address their clients' needs while bolstering their ability to deliver world-class services and accelerate growth while unlocking greater opportunities for personal and professional growth for their talent.

This was evident this week, in one of the biggest news of the industry that we reported.

Omnicom announced the formation of Omnicom Advertising Group (OAG), a new global organization aligning world-class creative networks BBDO, DDB, TBWA, as well as leading agencies within the Advertising Collective including Goodby Silverstein & Partners, GSD&M, Merkley & Partners and Zimmerman.

On this development, the CEO of the newly formed entity James Fenton noted: “OAG will make the best even better. One of the most exciting parts of this new division is that we can collectively invest in innovative offerings – such as Omnicom’s recent first-mover partnerships in GenAI,” said Ruhanen. “This will take our world-class creativity to the next level and keep our clients at the top of their industries. While we are excited to grow together, we will continue to celebrate and protect the uniqueness of each agency’s culture and entrepreneurship.”

On the creative space, these are the unique campaigns we picked for you this week.

Vodafone Ireland, in collaboration with Folk VML, has unveiled a powerful new out-of-home (OOH) campaign addressing the escalating issue of e-waste in Ireland.

AKQA, the global creative agency, has announced the launch of a new campaign for IBM, showcasing the transformative power of IBM Hybrid Cloud.

Clear Channel, one of the UK’s Out of Home media and infrastructure companies, has joined forces with The Prince’s Trust, a national charity supporting young people, to launch a new Out of Home campaign, celebrating the 20th anniversary of their partnership.

And Al-Futtaim Toyota’s legacy in the UAE has deep roots, so it comes as no surprise that their campaign for Emirati Women’s Day, created in collaboration with the Roads and Transportation Authority (RTA) and Memac Ogilvy, celebrates the occasion with a groundbreaking idea that transforms the UAE’s female streets into living narratives.

In news on agencies and accounts, a2 Milk has appointed agency Dig as its social media and content agency following a competitive pitch process.

US plant based supplement brand Ora has appointed Motion Sickness as lead creative and strategic agency of record to build on global growth.

In the startups scene, Copenhagen-based spoken audio subscription service Podimo announced it has begun the acquisition process of influential Dutch podcast production house Tonny Media. The two businesses will remain operating as independent media houses and will jointly combine their sales efforts and expertise. Listeners of Podimo and Tonny Media shows will continue to enjoy the same great content without any changes.

Viggle AI, a Canadian startup revolutionizing character animation through generative artificial intelligence, has raised $19 million Series A funding led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with participation from additional investor Two Small Fish.

In appointments, Edelman has appointed the head of digital for Hong Kong and Taiwan Yuliani Setiadi as the head of digital for Southeast Asia (SEA).

Virtue has appointed two dynamic talents to its APAC team, reinforcing the agency's drive to build brands from inside culture.

And finally Hearst Magazines, the world’s largest lifestyle publisher, has announced that Willa Bennett has been named editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan and Seventeen.

Bob Koigi is an editor at Marketing Report One

www.marketingreport.one

Follow Marketing Report on LinkedIn