Publishers Want Independent Governance of The Trade Desk’s New Unified ID

Key Insights The Trade Desk will spend more money with publishers that drive more sign-ins. The Trade Desk will likely rely on SSPs to push Unified ID 2.0 to publishers, instead of a client services team. A non-biased governing body needs to be formed to police misuse. The Trade Desk is in the early days…

This Group Is Helping Agencies Add More Black People to Their Leadership Ranks

Reonna Johnson is vice president and director of marketing and business development at RPA, an independent agency in Los Angeles. On top of her day job, she’s spent recent weeks spearheading an initiative that’s encouraging agencies to put more Black people in leadership. The push is an extension of Three’s A Crowd, a two-year-old creative…

Buffalo Wild Wings Announces New CMO Pick

Rita Patel, currently vp of brand management at Target, will join Buffalo Wild Wings as chief marketing officer in September, the restaurant chain announced today. Based in Atlanta and reporting directly to Buffalo Wild Wings president Lyle Tick, Patel will oversee advertising, digital innovation, menu development and the overall brand experience. “Throughout her career, Rita…

McCann Worldgroup’s MRM Hires Chief Technology Officer

MRM, the McCann Worldgroup global digital marketing and relationship agency, hired its new global chief technology officer away from WPP. Jayna Kothary steps into the role after five years at WPP, where she most recently served as CTO for global clients. In that role, Kothary was based out of the U.K. and worked with the…

Marriott President Laments ‘Frustratingly High’ Covid-19 Rate in the US

Hoping that the worst of the pandemic is behind it, Marriott announced losses of nearly $232 million in the second quarter. Revenue per available room (RevPar) for the world’s largest hospitality brand dropped more than 84% worldwide, while North American occupancy rose to nearly 20% on average, reaching nearly 34% by the end of July….

Aldo Teams Up With TikTok Stars to Encourage Fans to ‘Step Into Love’

Fashion footwear and accessory retailer Aldo launched its “Step Into Love” fall campaign today, with a spot set in a New York City subway teeming with TikTok dancers. The spot, filmed pre-Covid-19, features a woman on her way to work when she is inspired by the people around her to break into dance. Each influencer…

Meet the 2020 Young Influentials; TikTok Fights Back: Monday’s First Things First

Welcome to First Things First, Adweek’s daily resource for marketers. We’ll be publishing the content to First Things First on Adweek.com each morning (like this post), but if you prefer that it come straight to your inbox, you can sign up for the email here. Meet Adweek’s 2020 Young Influentials Who Are Shaping Media, Marketing…

Will these paragraph block show? Round 2

Is this caused by the portrait gallery block?

Mother Hires Chief Talent Officer, a New Role at the Agency

James Kinney has joined Mother U.S. to serve as chief talent officer, a new role at the agency. He joins from Giant Spoon, where he served as vice president of people. In this role, he will oversee recruitment; guide the independent agency’s diversity, equity, inclusion and culture initiatives; and focus on providing growth and education…

The Furniture You Didn’t Know You Needed: A Recliner That Orders Auntie Anne’s Pretzels

Auntie Anne’s is cooking up new methods to bring its famed hot pretzels to consumers. The chain, a near-omnipresent sight at transportation hubs like train stations and airports, has rolled out what it’s calling a “Recline-to-Dine” chair, which allows whoever sits in it to order pretzels with the pull of a lever. The chair is…

Here’s How Cornhole Landed Itself in the Big Leagues During the Pandemic

Last summer, New England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski–who retired that March–turned up at the ESPY awards in Los Angeles. Sweating in his suit and tie under the merciless midday sun, Gronk was still gracious as a sports reporter came at him with the microphone. But while every football fan wanted an answer to the million-dollar…

What If Film History Was Vertical?; Inside Amazon Seller Lawsuits: Friday’s First Things First

Welcome to First Things First, Adweek’s daily resource for marketers. We’ll be publishing the content to First Things First on Adweek.com each morning (like this post), but if you prefer that it come straight to your inbox, you can sign up for the email here. Apple Brilliantly Imagines a Parallel Universe Where Hollywood Always Used…

Preroll PSA Ads Ask Viewers Not to Skip Over Homeless People

A new PSA campaign is taking advantage of YouTube’s “Skip Ad” button to simulate how people ignore the plight of homelessness. The pro bono series of preroll ads, created through a partnership between Deutsch LA, the United Nations and Tribeca Film Festival, star actor and trans activist Theo Germaine imploring viewers not to skip homeless…

Peloton Appoints Dara Treseder to Lead the Brand’s Global Marketing

Exercise equipment brand Peloton was once only known for its stationary and interactive bikes. But, since its launch in 2013, the company has become one of the largest technology-enabled immersive fitness platforms in the world, boasting more than 2.6 million members. To facilitate the needs of fast-growing membership and to keep the Peloton experience consistent…

Cruise Industry Extends Pause Again, No Sailing Until November

Halloween will have come and gone before Americans can cruise again. Even though the industry had hoped to be in the water by early fall, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has announced that the industry has agreed to extend its operational pause through at least Oct. 31. Previously, the industry had agreed to a…

Audi Apologizes for ‘Insensitive’ Image; Tom Goodwin Is Out at Publicis Groupe: Wednesday’s First Things First

Welcome to First Things First, Adweek’s daily resource for marketers. We’ll be publishing the content to First Things First on Adweek.com each morning (like this post), but if you prefer that it come straight to your inbox, you can sign up for the email here. Audi Apologizes for Ad’s ‘Insensitive Image’ Automaker Audi apologized after…

Next Steps in Halting Hate for Profit; The Rock Buys the XFL: Tuesday’s First Things First

Welcome to First Things First, Adweek’s daily resource for marketers. We’ll be publishing the content to First Things First on Adweek.com each morning (like this post), but if you prefer that it come straight to your inbox, you can sign up for the email here. What’s Next for the Facebook Boycott? The Stop Hate for…

Is Hard Seltzer Here to Stay—or Will It Go the Way of the Wine Cooler?

For many casual observers and drinkers, hard seltzer seemed to come out of nowhere last summer. Sweeping across the country like a fizzy, buzz-making tidal wave, hot girl summer suddenly had an official beverage sponsor: White Claw. But for those in the industry or closely observing it, the rise of hard seltzer wasn’t mere happenstance–consumers…

Trump vs. TikTok; Hard Seltzer Bubbles to the Top: Monday’s First Things First

Welcome to First Things First, Adweek’s daily resource for marketers. We’ll be publishing the content to First Things First on Adweek.com each morning (like this post), but if you prefer that it come straight to your inbox, you can sign up for the email here. The Battle Between Trump and Tiktok Escalates The ongoing confluct…

Zippo Fires Up a Special Mars Lighter Following NASA’s Latest Space Launch

NASA launched its latest mission to Mars on Thursday, drawing millions of viewers. And while the features of the Perseverance Rover are mightily impressive, the thing that led so many people to YouTube was the chance to watch an Atlas V-541 rocket do its thing. As launch vehicles go, the Atlas is the Ferrari of…