The Campaign Podcast

Campaign

Campaign's weekly award-winning podcast interrogates and analyses the biggest stories, campaigns and important issues in UK advertising, marketing and media. Presented by Campaign's editorial team. Read more at http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/resources/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Is adland in danger of undervaluing mentoring?

    MAY 19

    Is adland in danger of undervaluing mentoring?

    The advertising and media industry is going through a period of massive change, as a result of AI, economic and global pressures, organisational restructures and redundancies. In the latest market report from Campaign Red called “The Great Reboot”, we reported that the top holding companies cut 12,000 people from their businesses. As the industry is contracting, how are the people within it, its leaders and those seeking employment obtaining mentorship to push themselves and the industry forward? So far this year, we have seen the launch of mentorships schemes from The Marketing Skills Trust, Ogilvy UK and Rapp UK, an expansion of Lollipop mentoring’s existing programme and launch of Zoo.London’s career community. In this episode, Campaign's editorial team discusses why mentoring is so important in periods of rapid change, if adland puts enough value on the power of mentoring, and what happens if it’s neglected altogether. Fiona Cameron joins the episode as vice president of women’s professional support programme Bloom, and former learning and development partner at Group M, now called WPP Media.  From Campaign, the episode features deputy editor Gemma Charles, deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings, and hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley. Further reading: Campaign Inspiring Women Awards winners 2026: Mentor of the Year What does it take to be an ad agency chief executive? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  2. What’s wrong with being a holding company?

    MAY 12

    What’s wrong with being a holding company?

    Adland’s agency networks have been forced to think differently, after a challenging year for holding companies with economic instability, a mega-merger and AI disruption. Publicis began calling itself a “platform organisation” years ago, while Omnicom restructured to become a “premier marketing and sales company” after the acquisition of IPG last year. In February, WPP’s chief executive Cindy Rose said: “We don’t want to be a holding company any more”, but a “single operating company” instead. Campaign Red released a market report called "The big reboot", looking into the top network's 2025 FY results and what the post-holding company era looks like for the industry. In this episode, Campaign's editorial team is discussing why the largest agency groups are moving away from the holding company label, and what this "reboot" means. Editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier, media editor Beau Jackson and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis join the episode hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley. Further reading: Arthur Sadoun on why “pressure” from investors doesn’t matter, Publicis' “resilience” and the competition Publicis grows 4.5% in Q1 as Arthur Sadoun pans “squeeze to please Wall Street” Q1 expected to be “worst quarter” for WPP’s new business in 2026 WPP reports 6.7% revenue decline in Q1 2026 Omnicom revenue grew 3.9% in Q1 after IPG acquisition Chapter 1: Revenue Chapter 2: Headcount Chapter 3: M&A Chapter 4: Share price Chapter 5: New business Chapter 6: Creative awards AA/Warc: adspend forecast for 2026 drops amid methodology shake-up “The fragmentation of media is clear”: adland reacts to AA/Warc Expenditure Report AA/Warc: adspend to break records and smash £50bn ceiling in 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min
  3. How responsible are brands for online safety on social platforms?

    APR 14

    How responsible are brands for online safety on social platforms?

    In March, Meta and Google were found liable for designing addictive platforms that harmed a young user's mental health, a verdict both platforms disagree with and plan to appeal. Channel 4 also released its documentary called Molly vs The Machines about a 14 year old girl who took her own life after seeing harmful content online. Plus, the UK Government began a consultation for a potential ban for under 16s to improve digital safety, following Australia's ban in December, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying we “have to act”. Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and other platforms rely on advertising to make money. So whether a government ban or strict regulation of the platforms is the solution, this episode questions how much responsibility should the brands funding these platforms have. Jake Dubbins, managing director at Media Bounty and co-chair of Conscious Advertising Network, joins the episode alongside Campaign's UK editor Maisie McCabe and editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier. This episode is hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley. Further reading: Ian Russell challenges Instagram boss to “chat” at Cannes Lions Molly vs the Machines showed us that advertising choices aren't neutral Can we talk about whether fraudulent ads are the tech platforms' biggest problem? Ofcom research finds rise in concern over online risks versus benefits Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
  4. Why are in-house teams taking top talent from agencies?

    APR 7

    Why are in-house teams taking top talent from agencies?

    In-house agencies have been growing over the last few years, as brands have been taking more work in-house and building bespoke teams. In the last few weeks, Allwyn launched an in-house studio, ITV shifted its retained creative account from Uncommon to ITV Creative and Uncommon’s executive creative director Richard Biggs jumped to BBC Creative.  Campaign Red analysed this trend and last month produced an in-depth global report, The Inside Job, looking into what disciplines brands are in-housing, why they are luring agency talent and how they are collaborating with external agencies.  In this episode, Niki Garner, director of ITV Creative, joins The Campaign Podcast to discuss the in-housing evolution, why she hires from agencies and how in-house teams can provide the most value. Garner was also named In-house Agency Leader at Campaign’s In-House agency awards last year. Joining from the Campaign team is data journalist Jamie Rossouw, co-author of The Inside Job, and premium content editor Nicola Merrifield. This episode is hosted by tech and multimedia editor Lucy Shelley. Further reading: How to build a successful in-house agency Allwyn's media director: in-house shop Studio 59 aiming for “newsroom mentality” BBC Creative appoints Natalie Lau as head of planning ITV Creative lead dismisses past 'snobbery' aimed at in-house agencies ITV promotes I’m a Celebrity… South Africa with hand-drawn animation “The darker side of water”: behind the scenes of Channel 4’s “The fountain of filth” Lego ad calls 'play' with array of characters performed by Tom Holland Specsavers highlights audiology services by 'rebranding' Over four in 10 in-house agencies want to be brand’s lead agency, IHALC research finds ITV, Reckitt and Pepsi in-house leaders to speak at Campaign's In-Housing Summit The Lists 2025: Top five in-house creatives Campaign In-House Agency Awards 2025: winners revealed Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Campaign's weekly award-winning podcast interrogates and analyses the biggest stories, campaigns and important issues in UK advertising, marketing and media. Presented by Campaign's editorial team. Read more at http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/resources/podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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