What a week! I’ve spent days (and nights) hooked to the news, bouncing between stories of the mid-term build-up and its shockwave ‘Bluenami’ results (including undercurrent issues like voter rejection of AI data centre expansion), reactions to Christmas ads, and a nation lamenting what on earth has happened to Rice Krispies (simple answer, climate change means less rice for Kellogg’s)… How to make sense of all of that?
Well, it was the 5th edition of the Campaign Ad Net Zero Awards yesterday and it is such a pleasure to be part of an event which recognises work that is both commercially and sustainably successful. The best way we can play our part in tackling climate change is to demonstrate and scale how and where advertising can make a positive impact, helping innovative solutions in all kinds of sectors (including our own) become tomorrow’s standard practice. I urge you to check out the winning line-up to see how smart advertising folk are ensuring their work is helping address the problems so superbly highlighted in the National Emergency Briefing screening (make sure you’ve seen this!).
Congrats, in particular, to the teams at Renault Group, OMD, OM Sustainable Solutions, Publicis & I Care, and The Guardian for their Grand Prix wins, and to the teams at MG OMD & giff gaff, Media Bounty and Spotify for their multiple award wins. Honestly, it was such an inspiring event, and a real demonstration of the positive impact that advertising can have when it comes to tackling climate change.
Our pick of the ads:
- Our Ad in the A is Tesco’s new Christmas advert, created by BBH. ‘The Wrong Address‘ is a tale of rekindled friendship on Christmas eve.
- John Lewis teamed up with Saatchi & Saatchi to create ‘Gloria and Pickles‘. The film stars Dame Kristin and Scott Thomas, and centres around the idea of not giving up when finding the right gift feels difficult.
- P&O Cruises launched ‘Britain’s Bucket List’, developed by Pablo and WPP Media’s Wavemaker. The new nationwide campaign reveals the experiences people most want to tick off in their lifetime.
- XBOX partnered with McCann to announce its unique new console ‘In The Belly Of A Gator.’
Our must-reads:
- Dive into the behind the scenes of the John Lewis Christmas ad with Saatchi & Saatchi (Campaign).
- Ahead of the social media ban for under-16s, Ofcom has shared some recommendations for the most effective ways to age check young people (BBC).
- After the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street, Media Leader has weighed up what the change means for OOH (Media Leader).
- Media Smart has launched a brand-new free guide: Thinking Outside the Bots: Navigating Critical Thinking in an AI Chatbot World (Media Smart).
Dates for your diary:
- I will be discussing Trusted Advertising at the Harris X Book Breakfast on 10 November at the Blue Fin Building in Southwark. Do sign up here to come and join for good coffee, good company and fresh thinking.
- The Marketing Society is hosting The Global Changemakers Conference on 11 November at the QEII Conference Centre in London, bringing together 500+ senior marketers to discuss this year’s theme: Ambition. Find out more here.
- I will be chairing another Clearcast roundtable on 18 November exploring how brands, creators and regulators can work together to build credibility, protect consumers and strengthen confidence in influencer marketing. To register your interest in the free event, click here.
- Our flagship summit, LEAD, will return to the QEII Centre in Westminster on the morning of 28 January 2027. Buy tickets here.
- Our new interactive forum “Future Leaders” will take place straight after LEAD on 28 January. Aimed at professionals with four+ years’ experience, the event will look at the issues that matter now and what they mean for the next generation of industry leaders. Buy tickets, click here.
And finally, we’re focused on making sure that a sustainable future is also one where everyone working in advertising feels like they belong. We’ve announced the date of the next All In Census – March 10, 2027. Put it in the calendar, tell your teams, and stay tuned – the new survey will be looking at important issues including the impact of AI on everyday working lives and levels of trust that people have in our industry and the work it makes.
