I want to start this week’s newsletter by paying tribute to our former AA Chair, Dame Annette King, who sadly passed away earlier this week. Dame Annette was a fantastic champion for advertising and an innovative leader, leaving a huge legacy at Accenture Song, Publicis Groupe & Ogilvy. In the three years I worked with her as our Chair, she was always generous with her time to help me and my colleagues work through the issues of the day, and she will be greatly missed.
For more on Annette, please read our post here and also the news from Campaign. I’m sure there will be many more memories shared about Annette and much more written over the coming days.
We had prepared an AI special before the sad news broke about Annette, so I am now respectfully going to turn to this fast-moving technology and what we’re doing to help understand the impact it is having on advertising.
Firstly, a new e-book, Cracking AI Skills in Advertising, was published this week by my colleague, Konrad Shek. With insights from leaders at the likes of Publicis Media, ITV and VCCP, members can access a free copy here. It’s also available to buy on Kindle and as an audiobook on Spotify.
Secondly, a Best Practice Guide published with the Government and industry’s Online Advertising Taskforce sets the Responsible Use of Generative AI in Advertising, building on the IPA and ISBA’s original principles. Available here.
Thirdly, a recording of my session at LEAD last month, where I was lucky enough to speak with leaders in this space – Faith’s Alex Dalman, WPP’s Daniel Hulme, Omnicom Media’s Sean Betts, and Lloyds Bank CMO, Suresh Balaji. Watch it back here.
Finally, we cover this topic in our new book, Trusted Advertising. Despite being terrified that what we wrote in summer 2025 would be wildly out of date by now, I’m pleased to say I think it still points to the big challenges and opportunities we face to ensure this new technology helps to make our work more, rather than less, trusted by the public. Order a copy here.
If you’d like to talk more about AI and advertising, please get in touch with us at the Advertising Association; there’s plenty going on and lots of ways you can get involved.
Our must-reads:
- As the end of the Charter Review consultation approaches, the BBC suggests the licence fee could be cut if more people pay. (BBC)
- Advertisers respond to the launch of the Government’s under-16 social media ban consultation as documentary Molly vs the Machines is aired. (The Media Leader)
- A theme also explored in the AI Skills book, LBB’s Laura Swinton Gupta looks at how advertising is navigating its AI gender gap. (LBB)
- McCann Manchester’s Imogen Tazzyman reflects on creativity in the North following MAD//North festival. (LBB)
- In the AI era, brand-building is more valuable than ever, writes Publicis’ Josh Bullmore. (Campaign)
Our pick of the ads:
- Our Ad in the A – building on its iconic ‘Every Little Helps’, Tesco unveils a new brand platform ‘Need Anything From Tesco?’ with help from BBH.
- B&Q rallies brits to crack on with DIY in ‘Today We Do!’ by Leo UK.
- Standard Life’s ‘For the life we live’ by McCann London encourages thinking ahead for retirement.
- McDonald’s offers snapshots of nights out ending at the fast-food chain in ‘Camera Roll’ by Leo UK.
Dates for your diary:
- On 19 March, the Alliance of Media Independents brings Packing a Punch to London a half-day, no-nonsense deep dive into the strategies, metrics and mindsets that actually deliver. More info here.
- Get your tickets now for Future of Brands on 29 April at 180 Strand. AA members can get a 30% discount by using the code AA30 via this link.
- Tickets are selling fast for our Media Business Course, taking place from 7-10 July. Book your place here.
And finally, our former Front Foot Chair, Mark Evans, is running the brilliant Sprintathon once again this year, after breaking the £1m fundraising milestone in 2025. The date is set for April 15th at Battersea Park with The Marketing Society and Stand Up To Cancer (CRUK). Once again it will be a brilliant mash-up of sprinting and fundraising to #beatcancerfaster. We will be taking part and we’d love to see as many Ad Matters readers entering teams as possible! Register to take part here.
