Ad Matters 4.04.24

You’ll be pleased to know we won’t be charging you anything additional for this week’s Ad Matters, unlike mostly everything else in the entire world. Stay calm, people, it will all be OK. On a more serious note, here’s what we have had to say on this latest development in another year of big global news stories. 

It’s been an eventful week in the world of advertising too, with the Advertising Week Europe big top descending for three days at 180 Strand. We were excited to have the opportunity of recognising the achievements of one of our favourite American friends, Matt Scheckner, with a Leadership Icon award, as our colleagues in the UK Advertising Export Group prepare to launch the search for this year’s recipient at Advertising Week New York in October. Stephen, our CEO and I, were also treated to the experience of opening the market at the London Stock Exchange on Wednesday am, as part of the AWE celebrations. A wonderful moment, even if there were a lot of red numbers up on that digital scoreboard.  

Huge congrats to the AWE team, led by Katie Ingram, for another successful event. 

In other news…  

Our must-reads: 

• Campaign spotlights the best April Fool’s Day campaigns and pranks in a fun round-up, with examples including a chocolate toothpaste and wearable mattress launch! (Campaign) 

• Welcome to the IPA’s new President, Karen Martin, CEO of BBH, who this week unveiled her creative agenda to celebrate the value creativity brings to British business, the economy and culture. (LBB) 

• Ocean Outdoor has partnered with nine agencies to establish a long-term climate activism initiative funded by OOH adspend. (Media Leader) 

• Bauer Media Group has completed its acquisition of Clear Channel Europe-North. (Media Leader) 

• As US tariffs roll out, carmakers look at altering their brand positioning and comms strategies. (The Drum)  

Our pick of the ads: 

• Our Ad in the A is the symbolic campaign ‘The Edible Soap’, created by Saatchi & Saatchi and UK charity The Hygiene Bank to highlight hygiene poverty in the UK. 

• FCB London’s new ad for Quickbooks aims to “Power Your Possible” as it helps two young football bloggers power their success. 

• Our member VCCP aided Walkers in an April Fool’s Day ad suggesting it will swap its packaging colours for some of the nation’s favourite flavours. 

• Adam & Eve/DDB have created an OOH campaign for Dreamies including hand-painted fiberglass cats climbing the billboard for treats.  

Dates for the diary: 

• You have just a week left to enter the Marketing Week Awards 2025. This includes our Talent Trailblazer Award which celebrates organisations and individuals opening the industry up to new talent. Enter by April 11 here. 

• Today is your last chance to use the Front Foot member discount code to book tickets for the Future of Brands and The Future of Audio and Entertainment, taking place on April 29 at County Hall, London.  

• Tickets are now available for SXSW London, taking place 2-7 June in Shoreditch. Front Foot members can use the code AA25 to get 25% off Platinum Passes and Conference Passes. 

• The Creative Employer Skills Survey, supported by the Creative Industries Council and the Government, is now live!. Taking part will help Government and other organisations better understand the skills challenges that creative employers face. 

Finally, there’s less than a week to go to submit your Cannes Lions entry. We’re hoping to see the best array of UK creative excellence, so get in touch with awards@canneslions.com with any last minute questions. 

And we’re rounding off the week with a welcome to VML London, who are our newest Front Foot members!