Ad Matters: 11.07.25

It’s a special Media Business Course edition this week. We have a ‘live and direct’ report from my colleague, Suzanne Costello, about this year’s course – including a ‘you read it here first’ reveal of the winners!

Sea, sun and syndicates: it can only mean one thing: the AA’s legendary Media Business Course was back in Eastbourne! Now in its astonishing 61st year, MBC is widely recognised as the premier training ground for ambitious media practitioners to dive deep into the craft and science of planning and pitching.

Over three and half packed days, 105 brilliant minds from agencies, media owners, brands and tech platforms came together to tackle a live brief set by Lisa Boyles of giffgaff: how to launch broadband into regional markets.

Alongside teamwork and strategy sessions, attendees were inspired by industry greats including Vicky Fox (OMG), Ryan Uhl (Mail Metro Media), Kathryn Jacob OBE (Pearl & Dean) and Simon ‘Dags’ Daglish OBE (ITV), all while being guided by a team of expert tutors.

After pitching to a panel of senior industry judges yesterday, four standout teams made it to the main stage today to pitch their ideas to a top tier judging panel: Lisa Boyles, Clare Peters (OMD and Head of Judges) and Sharon Lloyd Barnes (AA’s Commercial Director).

The standard of the presentations was extremely high, but it was Syndicate 9, consisting of Poem Barber, Dec-19; Daniel Clark, Carat; Charlie Davis, Global; Megan Blandy, Havas; Olabisi Solano, Manning Gottlieb OMD; Noah Farmery, Ozone; Ben Totman, Sky Media; Billy Jenner, Talon; Marie Borges, UM; and Ellen Langstaff-Roberts, Warner Bros. Discovery who took home the win with their standout idea.

You can relive all the action – and spot some familiar faces right here. 

Hopefully, readers of Ad Matters will have seen the latest iteration of the ASA’s campaign somewhere on their travels this week. The multi channel campaign, developed by Leith and planned by EssenceMediacom, is supported by lots of our members, including big brand advertisers lending their famous brands once again to help boost public awareness of the ASA and its work.

We know this campaign plays an essential role in supporting people’s trust in ads and the industry – you can find out more about the campaign here.

And, if you want to share the ad campaign yourself on your own social channels or with colleagues, please get in touch with my colleague, Polly Devaney who is leading the charge on making sure this campaign travels far and wide.

Our must reads: 

• WPP has appointed Cindy Rose, a senior executive at Microsoft, to replace Mark Read as Chief Executive. Rose has been a non-executive director on WPP’s board since 2019 and takes over on 1 September. (Campaign)
• As UK reps for Cannes Lions, we’re pleased to share the Official Cannes Lions Wrap-Up 2025, providing an overview of everything that happened at the festival this year, including session recordings, winners and industry insights. (Cannes Lions)
• Our Chief Executive, Stephen Woodford, provided insights to inform the industry’s planning for the incoming Less Healthy Food (LHF) advertising restrictions and the opportunity to build trust with consumers. (Campaign)
• Channel 4 has announced a linear campaigns emissions measurement tool, which will be live in autumn, making it the first UK broadcaster to offer this. (Media Leader)
• Giffgaff has published a Responsible Marketing Manifesto, with a focus on three key areas: sustainability, inclusion, and ‘doing more of the right thing’. (giffgaff)

Our pick of the ads: 

• Our Ad in the A is the new wave of the ASA Awareness Campaign by Leith, which aims to inform and remind people where and how advertising is regulated, with famous brands and media partners on board once again.
• McCann Birmingham’s ‘A Picture Perfect Rivalry’ for CrossCountry Trains features two men with similar holiday hobbies, who find themselves in a humorous rivalry.
• With 945,000 young people not in employment, education or training, The King’s Trust has launched ‘Working For Young People’ with T&P, highlighting the barriers young people face accessing support and securing employment.
• The summer of sport continues with BBH London’s ‘Receipts’ for Tesco, communicating hidden messages of support for the England and Wales teams competing in the Women’s Euros.

Dates for your diary: 

• There’s just over a week left until the standard entry deadline for the Campaign Ad Net Zero Awards! These awards reward impactful sustainability initiatives from across our industry that drive better business outcomes. Submit your entries here by 17 July.

And finally, a big thank you to ISBA for the invitation to Phil Smith’s last Annual Lunch as DG, and congrats to the ISBA award winners. Also, much fun was had courtesy of Bauer at its star-studded pub quiz and the Thinkbox TV Planning Awards this week. It’s brilliant to see such great celebrations of creativity and advertising excellence from across the industry!