Hasta La Creative!

Talent has no gender, the expression goes. And now the 3% Movement is making agencies put their money where their, well, talent is. MDC Partners’ 72andSunny and WPP’s VML are the first agencies to become “certified” by the equality advocacy group for creating inclusive cultures in which both men and women can thrive.

The 3% Movement — not to be confused with 3 Percenters — announced the results of its inaugural certification program at its sixth annual conference in New York this week. Upon the for-profit organization’s founding, only 3 percent of U.S. creative directors were women. That figure is now up to 11 percent.

But the 3% certification goes beyond changing the ratio of female creative directors in the U.S. and stretches into all areas of gender equality and inclusion, say organizers. A “handful of agencies” went through the first process, says Lisen Stromberg, chief operating officer of 3%, declining to discuss any other than 72andSunny and VML.

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Bertrand Fraboulet and Karim Eid have been jointly appointed as global heads for Havas Group’s performance marketing brand, Ecselis.

Goodness Knows, a new brand from Mars Chocolate, is making its TV debut with a TV ad that appeals to consumers with a whimsical cruel streak.

-Alpha Century launched a winter campaign for Sofology starring Owen Wilson (video above).

-W+K Portland launched a “#LoveOverBias” spot for P&G ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

-Havas plans to introduce mandatory global online employee training regarding harassment and business ethics.

-Digiday tells you “What you need to know about influencer fraud.”

-Microsoft vice president of brand, advertising and research Kathleen Hall explained why Microsoft doesn’t respond to criticism over its advertising on sites like Breitbart.

-Unilever is acquiring the Tazo brand from Starbucks for a reported $384 million.

-LBB spends “5 minutes with” DDB Paris executive creative director Alexander Kalchev.

(TrendHunter.com) The minimalist Scandanivian clothing brand COS is launching its first book, Creating with Shapes, which was made in collaboration with Usha Doshi.

The book focuses on the decades worth of pattern-…

Learn more about the future of retail wars, online and off, at the Ad Age Next Conference in New York on Nov. 15 and 16. Speakers from players including Amazon, Walmart, Wayfair, Casper and more will help you see over the horizon and decide whether and when to leap into new tech. See the full agenda here.

Kroger wants to help out with your wardrobe.

The largest U.S. supermarket chain is launching an apparel line that it pledges will be “playful, simple and uplifting.” It will be sold in 300 stores, including Fred Meyer and Kroger Marketplace locations.

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Media Fight Night is on course to a raise a record £150,000 after leading figures from the UK media industry took part in the third annual charity boxing evening.