Ad Agency

We have written here before about the alleged improprieties that agency holding companies (especially their media and digital outposts) may have conducted with their clients’ money.

The 4A’s, the leading trade association representing the advertising agency business, has released the “Transparency Guiding Principles of Conduct,” which outline common goals and modern industry practices surrounding the issue of media transparency.

The agency of record (AOR) relationship appears to be dead — or at least dying — and agencies are scrambling to be the right size to remain profitable within the new project-driven reality.

Sensis was awarded a new multiple award blanket purchase agreement for health marketing and communication support services by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The 4A’s and ANA—issued new guidelines outlining best-practice recommendations designed to bring industry-wide consistency to how competitive reviews for project assignments are conducted by marketers and advertising agencies.

For me, those who currently hold a low-end media-buying and -selling role are prime examples of endangered jobs. They have relied heavily on Excel spreadsheets and other stand-alone technologies. But connected and real-time machine buying and selling is growing very, very fast, and it won’t be long before perhaps half of those currently working in this area find that their skills and roles will have been automated.

In its first year working as the AOR for the California Beef Council, alPunto Advertising developed a comprehensive retailer-focused effort with over 310 sample activities, radio featuring KLVE personality Argelia Atilano, TV product placement and digital/social media programs.

Anomaly in New York announced that  they have hired management and creative executives: Giovanni Villamar, previously at Dieste; and Mauricio Galván previously at d expósito, Totality HAVAS and Vidal Partnership.

Agency executives—more so than senior marketers—plan to increase spending on a variety of different formats in 2016, including digital, social and mobile.

Dieste Inc. has named agency executive creative director Ciro Sarmiento its new Chief Creative Officer, effective February 1st.

Multidisciplinary brand culture and communications firm (add)ventures is expanding its Miami office with the addition of Camila Moller as director of strategy/marketing and  Michelle Spriegel as specialist of pr/social media.

Moen announced that it has named Havas Chicago lead strategic brand and media agency of record.

For the new campaign, created by H&R Block’s Miami-based agency of record MARCA, Wisin re-recorded his hit song Piquete.

Sensis has launched SensisHealth, a specialized health care marketing practice to help providers, payers and pharmaceutical companies improve outcomes for a diverse population of patients and caregivers.

When buying programmatically, there are many important factors that come into play. Being able to buy display, as well as inventory across channels via a single platform, are two of the top ones, according to US media practitioners.

Luis Gonzalez founder of Miami based C-Com Group, Inc. and Manuel Machado founder of Miami based MGSCOMM have joined forces and will Co-Chair the new growth strategy for the C-Com Group.

As we wrap up 2015 and head toward 2016, I must admit I’m a little surprised at the lack of surprises resulting from the big agency reviews that took place this year.  

Requests for Proposals have enjoyed a long tenure as one of the most important — if inefficient and cumbersome — aspects of communications planning. But as cross-channel initiatives become more complex, as they move increasingly toward harnessing behavioral nuances and orchestrating intricate experiences such as “micro-moments,” these antiquated systems of gathering and using critical information are increasingly inhibiting.

A group of employees of Commonground/MGS under the leadership of Jorge Espinosa filed in South Florida Federal District Court a lawsuit against PCH Communications, (aka) Commonground/MGS.

Denny’s is commemorating the holidays with the launch of its new social media series “Reindeer vs. Camels,” featuring six loveable characters, reindeers and camels, as they battle to become the preferred gift giver during the season.