Campaign Chemistry

From navigating the early buzz around blockchain to reshaping the image of one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges, Haider Rafique has seen firsthand how consumer sentiment can make or break an industry.  As the CMO at OKX, he led a bold rebrand, one that consisted of unique partnerships with brands including UFC, Manchester City and Tribeca Festival to change the way people see crypto. The fi...

New tech, new client demands and new ways of defining what great work looks like are rapidly transforming the ad industry, but for Justin Thomas-Copeland, these are not challenges to fear.  The new CEO of the 4As joined the latest episode of Campaign Chemistry to discuss his first 100 days in office, from his transition into leadership to his vision for the future of the advertising organization t...

On this episode of Campaign Chemistry, Luz Corona speaks with Jonathan Adashek, the SVP of marketing and communications at IBM. They explore how IBM’s 113 year-old legacy fuels innovation, why story “showing” is central to brand identity and how career growth often emerges from uncomfortable moments. From the launch of the “Let’s Create” campaign to weaving AI into the marketing strategy, Adashek...

When Dani Mariano joined Razorfish eleven years ago, the agency playbook looked very different. Today, she finds herself writing an altogether new one. With clients chasing market share and AI’s ever-growing influence on collaboration and creative work, Dani describes how she’s moving Razorfish forward with smart, adaptable strategies. campaignlive.com   Music - Take you Out by Lucid Tides, c...

And the winner is...Uncommon Creative Studio. In this episode of Campaign Chemistry, the Campaign team took a special field trip a few subway stops away to the NY headquarters of Uncommon Creative Studio to clink champagne glasses with its co-founder, Nils Leonard, celebrating the agency's recent win as Campaign's  Agency of the Year  in the US. Leonard discusses the innovative projects that have...

For AKQA founder and former chief executive Ajaz Ahmed, leadership is about one thing: being a decent human being. On the latest episode of Campaign Chemistry, Ahmed opens up about his WPP departure, the cultural cost of bureaucracy in holding companies and why this is a “golden era” for independent agencies. He shares more details around his latest venture, Studio. One, and how he’s leaning on hi...

When it comes to Kudzi Chikumbu’s career success, it’s not just one thing setting him apart. The creator, author and now podcast host shares his journey from being an accountant to being one of the first employees at Musical.ly before it turned into TikTok and everything in between. After becoming a key player in the creator economy as the head of global creative marketing at TikTok and the creato...

In this episode of Campaign Chemistry, Kirshbaum discusses the evolving landscape at the intersection of music and advertising. He highlights the rise of niche artists and "third places," the current state of messiness when it comes to AI and copyright and music festivals like Governor's Ball turning into "brand ball." The discussion also covers successful brand activations during events like Reco...

Join Frank Mazzola, chief creative officer, Real Chemistry; and Alok Gadkar, cofounder, CEO and CCO, Tuesday Communications, to hear stories from behind the jury room door. As members of this year’s Pharma Lions Jury, Mazzola and Gadkar share what it’s like in the room, trends from this year’s awards and how pharma clients can get engaged. campaignlive.com   Music - Take you Out by Lucid Tide...

In this conversation, Adeela Johnson, CEO and co-founder of travel gear brand Béis, shares her journey from being a mom of three to leading the successful D2C brand she co-founded with actress and entrepreneur Shay Mitchell. Johnson discusses the importance of consumer-centric design, the importance of relatability in influencer marketing and what the Béis team learned from its early beginnings th...

If you’ve never been to the basement of the Palais, let us set the scene for you. There are dozens of displays of campaigns for each category that show key details and visuals of some of the top work. Attendees can also visit computer labs to watch films and case studies for the campaigns.  While walking the work, visitors can spot many of the industry’s top creative thinkers and CMOs. During the...

What does it take to secure, plan and execute a main stage presentation at Cannes? Christopher Charles, executive creative director at 21Grams, and Fiona Cauley , a comedian with Friedreich’s Ataxia, who recently opened for Nikki Glaser, are fresh from their presentation on the main stage at Cannes. Hear the behind-the-scenes story of their presentation, how it went and what they believe the impac...

Caroline Winterton is steering a new era of integration and creativity at North America uniting distinct agency brands while preserving their unique strengths. Her empathetic, future-focused leadership has driven deeper collaboration, emotionally resonant work, and business growth, with recent client wins like IKEA and Bimbo global and top industry honors such as 2x Grand Effies at the Global Best...

The founder and CEO of Lupine Creative and LumiCup sits down for a special Pride episode of Campaign Chemistry to share her remarkable (and remarkably bumpy) journey as a proudly queer business founder, and her commitment to empowering the LGBTQ+ community through her agency work and Do The WeRQ — the initiative she cofounded with Graham Nolan.   Wolff also discusses the current state of LGBTQ+ re...

In this episode of Campaign Chemistry, Luz Corona sits down with Christi Geary, GM and head of marketing agency at Advantage Solutions (AUC + Amp), to explore how brands can bridge the perceived divide between technology and humanity in brand building. They unpack why AI alone can’t win hearts, how behavioral science and emotional insight reshape conversion strategies and why the future belongs to...

Campaign’s editors from around the world come together ahead of the Lions festival for the first episode of the Campaign Cannes global podcast in partnership with Ocean Outdoor. We preview the festival and talk about the work we want to win, the mood in the ad industry and Campaign House – our exciting new venue at Cannes.  Gideon Spanier (centre in picture), the UK editor-in-chief of Campaign, ho...

In today's world, every good marketer needs an "escape hatch" plan in case social platforms go awry. But Saylor co-founder and CEO Will Trowbridge knew this years ago. In this episode of Campaign Chemistry, Trowbridge joins Campaign editor Luz Corona to discuss how the Netflix alum built one of the fastest-growing agencies by redefining social-first creative . Trowbridge shares how his time at Dis...

Havas Media Network’s North American chief investment officer, Jon Stimmel, joins Campaign's Luz Corona to unpack the evolving world of media investment. From navigating supply chain volatility to integrating AI with intention into media buying, Stimmel explores how Havas Media is guiding clients through complex choices without sacrificing long-term strategy, offering insights on transparency with...

After nearly two decades together at major shops, Brett Banker and Eric Segal launched X&O (Experts and Officers) in 2023 with a bold proposition: no pitching and no “agency bloat.” Just expert-led sprints designed to solve real problems — fast. As the traditional holding company model faces change and independent agencies gain prominence, Banker and Segal provide a candid perspective on contempor...

Dating is hard, but when your brand promise is the dating app "designed to be deleted,” the advertising might arguably be slightly more challenging. And yet, the Hinge marketing team is here to keep the app's promise. In this episode of Campaign Chemistry , Hinge president and CMO Jackie Jantos discusses the unique approach of Hinge in the dating app landscape, emphasizing its mission to encourage...

Campaign editor Luz Corona sits down with Doug Grumet, EVP of media, intelligence and innovation at Advantage Marketing Partners , to decode the shifting dynamics of this year’s upfronts. From AI’s growing role in targeting to the rise of retail media, live event bets and how social-first brands are rethinking spend, Grumet shares a strategic view on where media dollars are heading — and why flexi...

In this episode of  Campaign Chemistry , Luz Corona sits down with  Tribeca Enterprises president, global chief commercial officer Christopher Brady to talk about the Tribeca Festival’s next chapter. From expanding beyond film to spotlighting immersive experiences, podcasts and branded content, Tribeca is reshaping what a festival can be. They discuss the 2025 lineup, new initiatives for emerging...

In this special edition of Campaign Chemistry, the Campaign US editorial team unpacks the journey of the Campaign Cup, from early matchups to its two finalists, both Super Bowl ads. They explore the evolving role of nostalgia, celebrity influence and cultural resonance in advertising, while sharing their behind-the-scenes insights from the selection process. Plus, hear their predictions, hot takes...

Much like the Campaign award she received a few weeks ago, Asha Shivaji is an inspiring woman .   The CEO of SeeMe Index — a company that uses responsible AI to track how inclusive brands really are — shares her journey from digital marketing to founding a company focused on inclusive marketing. She discusses the importance of measuring inclusivity in brands, the role of AI in uncovering insights...

With the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics on the horizon, NBCUniversal is preparing for one of its biggest upfront seasons yet. In this episode, Luz Corona sits down with Karen Kovacs to unpack NBCU’s multi-platform strategy — from the cultural dominance of Bravo to the growing importance of Telemundo in reaching Hispanic audiences. They also discuss lessons from past campaigns, how news continues t...