Group M, the world's largest media buying group, has undergone a titanic course correction and "simplification", re-emerging as WPP Media. While the destination "makes sense", according to Campaign's editor-in-chief Gideon Spanier, the reorganisation is coming at a huge cost to those that work there.

In February this year, The Campaign Podcast asked 'What is Group M?' and in the three months since, the group has merged agency brands into a single P&L, got rid of agency specific jobs titles and begun making roles redundant around the world. More recently, WPP's chief executive Mark Read announced on Monday (9 June) he was stepping down.

In this episode, Campaign's editorial team ask a simple question and dig deeper into why WPP has made the change, what will happen to the individual agencies within it, and whether it really is "simpler".

Tech editor Lucy Shelley hosts the episode which features Spanier alongside media editor Beau Jackson and deputy media editor Shauna Lewis.

Further reading:

‘Something’s gone horribly wrong’: new chair faces calls to ‘fix’ WPP at AGM

WPP launches data solution Open Intelligence

'We know that we have to be simpler': Brian Lesser lays out Group M plans

Group M axes global agency CEO roles in major centralisation push

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Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity 2025 is only a few weeks away. With the prejudging completed last week, Campaign speaks to three jurors on what they're expecting this year at Cannes and what purpose the festival serves in a year of economic turbulence.

Tech editor Lucy Shelley speaks to Kate Stanners, president of the Film Lions and global chief creative officer and chair of Saatchi & Saatchi; Dan Clays, president of the Media Lions and chief executive officer EMEA at Omnicom Media Group and Noel Bunting, juror on Digital Craft Lions and chief creative officer at Publicis London.

The judging trio talk about the importance of instinct, why Cannes serves as a reminder of the "art of the possible" and how the connection between creativity and technology is used to hack the algorithm in advertising. 

Further reading:

Should Cannes Lions be more focused on practical business solutions?

Arthur Sadoun calls for ‘different approach’ at Cannes amid economic challenges

Apple named Cannes Lions Creative Marketer of the Year

Campaign announces agenda for debut of Campaign House at Cannes Lions 2025

Cannes Lions introduces safe zones

'Rewarding work while accepting suffering': IPA, D&AD and Cannes Lions respond

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VCCP London’s chief executive Andrew Peake is the special guest in the studio, joining Campaign’s creativity and culture editor Gurjit Degun, deputy editor Gemma Charles and features editor Matt Barker.

Andrew explains why VCCP are moving out of their home in London’s Victoria after 23 years and heading over to Fitzrovia, prompting a conversation among the quartet around the role that offices – and crucially, office cultures – have to play in attracting talent.

That then leads to further chat about socio-economic factors, career development and other motivating factors that come into play when choosing to work for a particular agency.

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Campaign hosted its star event Media360 in Brighton this week, gathering together leaders from UK media agencies, owners and businesses to discuss and question where media is headed in 2025.

Hosted by the chief executives of Essencemediacom and Hearts & Science, Natalie Cummins and Garrett O’Rielly, the two days covered connecting with gen Z, what to do about AI and urged advertisers to support trusted journalism. Jamie Laing opened the conference in the hot seat questioned by Campaign editor Maisie McCabe.

In this bonus episode you will hear a session from the event which questions whether social media is killing TV, hosted by Debatemate. Before we get to it, tech editor Lucy Shelley is joined by media editor Beau Jackson to chat through a few highlights from the two days.

Further reading:

Media 360: Lloyds Banking Group’s marketing lead on breaking ground in gaming

Media 360: Marketers from Currys, Reckitt and Estée Lauder on how media drives growth

Media 360: Jamie Laing on why brands should 'always have a North Star'

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In this special episode of The Campaign Podcast, Charlotte Rawlings, deputy creativity and culture editor at Campaign, chats to four of the industry’s top creatives about some recent ads. 

Rawlings is joined by Laura Rogers, executive creative director at AMV BBDO; Jonny Parker and Chris Birch, joint chief creative officers at VCCP; and Caitlin Ryan, creative partner at Dentsu Creative. The creatives discuss the longevity of brand mascots, their favourite type of crumpets and how the PG Tips Monkey has transformed into a loving husband.

Listen to their opinions on British Gas, Warburtons, KFC and more. 

Further reading: 

• PG Tips brings back Monkey in campaign featuring Emily Atack
• British Gas launches brand platform with cosy characters
• Olivia Colman takes crumpet duty seriously in Warburtons campaign
• Warburtons radio ads feature Olivia Colman denying 'crumpet heist'
• KFC spot launches burger with cult-like dinner ceremony
• Confused.com spot turns people into helium-filled inflatables

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The darker side of agency life reveals that burnout is still an issue in advertising. Adland is infamously known for late night calls, weekend pitch prep and a culture of long working hours being the norm. Four years ago Campaign launched an investigation into the darker side of agency work and in this year’s follow up, it seems little progress has been made.

This week is Mental Health Awareness week, and in this episode Campaign speaks to Sue Todd, chief executive at advertising and media charity Nabs, and David Eakins, former art director and now mental health campaigner and founder of workplace wellbeing agency Happy Sapien.

Hosted by tech editor Lucy Shelley, Campaign's editor Maisie McCabe also joins the discussion. They explore why adland has not solved the issue of burnout and what can be done to protect its people.

Content warning: this episode contains references to suicide. If you have been affected by issues raised in this episode and need a number to call, you can reach Nabs at 0800 707 6607, Calm on 0800 1111 or Samaritans on 116 123.

Further reading:

An open letter to the gatekeepers of creative greatness

Nabs helpline calls reach annual record of 5200

Why hasn’t adland tackled its long-hours culture?

Does adland wish it was ‘Severed’?

Coming up in the Campaign calendar:

Campaign Live

Campaign Big Awards

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Live experiences couldn't get more real. They provide consumers with a tangible connection to a brand. But in an era of declining third spaces, consumers need to be wowed if they are to venture out their homes to attend an event.

Louisa O'Conner if the founder and managing director of experiential agency Seen Presents. She joins the podcast to discuss the change in consumer behaviour, why consumers generally prefer grassroots events to premium and how the pressure put on live experiences makes them feel like the ultimate wedding.

Hosted by Campaign's tech editor Lucy Shelley, this episode also features deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings.

Further reading:

The experiential antidote to Gen Z’s dying third place

UK firms cut marketing budgets for first time in four years: IPA Bellwether

‘A tough start to the year’: IPA Bellwether adland reaction

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Women in creative leadership roles have been leaving adland. The IPA Census reported a decline in both of the last two years, down from 30% in 2022 to 25.6% in 2024. On top of this, the Census reported a widening pay gap, increasing to almost 20% in 2024.

This episode welcomes Laura Jordan Bambach to the studio, founder and chief creative officer of female founded Uncharted. Alongside editor Maisie McCabe and deputy creativity and culture editor Charlotte Rawlings, they discuss why it’s got worse, if there was any improvement seen in the first place and what needs to be done to amend the issue.

Jordan Bambach, who launched The Great British Diversity Experiment nine years ago, explained that when agencies feel under pressure from economic and other external storms, they return to "muscle memory", and rely on behaviours of the past. The industry needs to reframe what it is to be a successful creative leader and adjust perceptions, she said.

This episode was hosted by tech editor Lucy Shelley.

Further reading:

I can’t believe I still have to write columns about this shit

Under-appreciated, overlooked and misunderstood: the life of a female creative

3 great ads I had nothing to do with – #68 with Laura Jordan Bambach

My Cannes Snapshot: Laura Jordan Bambach

Laura Jordan Bambach, Hannah Matthews and Fern Miller unveil 'advanced' creative agency

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Last week, the greats of UK media gathered in London to celebrate the Campaign Media Awards 2025. The coveted Commercial Team of the Year award went to LADbible while Spark Foundry’s Mondelez Team took home Agency Team of the Year.

The winning Campaign of the Year was awarded to PHD and "Stream of (un)consciousness" for the British Heart Foundation. The gaming campaign worked with Twitch creators, interrupting their streams to teach viewers how to do CPR, and the results were powerful, with someone’s life being saved after a viewer saw one streamer’s CPR segment. Judges said they couldn’t “wish or hope for more for a client in this sector.”

In this bonus episode we are chatting to the brains behind the campaign, Tess Gullis, gaming business director at PHD. We discuss how the campaign is successful in its simplicity, the misconceptions that still exist from advertisers and answer why brands are overcomplicating gaming.

Hosted by Campaign tech editor Lucy Shelley, this episode also features deputy media editor Shauna Lewis.

View all the winners here.

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