Ad Age Marketer's Brief

Meta’s top marketer discusses the latest strategies digital advertisers need to know from search engines to social media. And he weighs in on agencies, automation and AI, in an industry worried about its future.

Spectrum Reach shows how having the right data can drive performance, brand safety and advertiser confidence.

How the owner of Lunazul tequila, Deep Eddy vodka and a high-end bourbon and whiskey portfolio is tapping into fast moving social media and food trends without losing sight of its roots. Blevins also discusses new agency relationships with Mono and Assembly.

Creator marketing is a huge part of Blizzard Entertainment's strategy. As the developer of properties with global appeal, such as World of Warcraft, Overwatch and Diablo, it has no trouble finding fans in all corners of the world, including basketball player Luka Dončić, who plays at one of the highest possible ranks in Overwatch. CMO Monica Austin discusses a recent partnership with Dončić, plus why Blizzard sees value in partnering with creators who are vocal critics of its work. She also discusses balancing Blizzard's global marketing strategy with region-specific campaigns.

Ad Age technology reporter Asa Hiken breaks down the state of AI search advertising, what ads on ChatGPT may look like, how much they’ll cost and the different approaches companies including OpenAI, Google, Meta and Perplexity are taking. Plus, how marketers can strategize for consumers’ changing AI habits. YouTube announced new ad tools that will give creators more power to curate sponsorships across their content libraries. Read how YouTubers are becoming more like traditional media networks. And a tax change set for 2026 threatens the future of free agency food. Get the info on how lunches might become the next differentiator for recruiting talent. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~Everything to know about AI search ads ~Inside Perplexity’s ad test ~Answer engine optimization tips ~Listen to Grillo’s CMO on the importance of experiential activations

On this episode, Luker also talks about what Grillo’s looks for in partnerships.

Ad Age agency reporter Ewan Larkin demystifies the changing power dynamics at agency holding companies such as WPP, Publicis and Omnicom. Global account leads are becoming more important to agency growth, changing the position of regional and agency brand CEOs. Plus, Netflix announced it would make ad inventory available through Amazon’s DSP. The partnership is a milestone in both companies’ ad journeys—read more on the implications. And Goodby Silverstein & Partners named Sarah Thompson as its first-ever CEO. Go inside the reasons why. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~The meaning of agency holding companies’ changing power dynamics ~Dentsu’s strategy to stand out amid industry M&A ~Behind the scenes of the updated “How Many Licks” campaign ~Listen to Little Caesar’s CMO talk sports marketing strategy

Greg Hamilton joins the Marketer’s Brief Podcasts to talk about the chain’s four years as an NFL sponsor.

Ad Age senior agency reporter Lindsay Rittenhouse goes inside the growing trend of brand-agency marriage counseling. Rather than jumping straight into a costly and time-intensive agency review, consultancies are increasingly suggesting services that evaluate the existing relationship, and potentially improve both the agency and brand’s practices. Plus, Group Black is changing its name to Portrait Media Group. In an exclusive interview with Ad Age, co-founder Bonin Bough explained the reason as well as the company’s future path. And one change for future CMOs is the rise of test-running roles before committing full-time. Read more on how to get noticed for interim marketing positions. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~Inside brand-agency marriage counselling ~The stats on client-agency tenure ~Google won’t be forced to sell Chrome ~What Kraft Heinz’s reorganization means for its future ~Keep up with the latest account reviews ~Buy tickets to Ad Age’s Business of Brands conference ~Listen to Manscaped’s CMO talk unconventional media strategies

Kertesz reflects on three years in the CMO role, including how media placements have become a form of creative messaging and how the DTC-born brand is embracing multichannel marketing. Plus, how the brand's “Send Face Pics Instead” went viral.