The Ad Podcast

Christine Capone – President of MKG (Experiential Marketing) This Christine Capone is a high-profile executive in the experiential marketing and branding industry. She serves as the President of MKG , a top-tier creative agency known for producing massive live events and brand activations. Career Background: Her expertise is rooted heavily in relationship building and partner management. Before mo...

Brad Hoos is the CEO of The Outloud Group, a fast-growing influencer marketing agency specializing in creator partnerships and digital campaigns for major consumer brands. He is known for helping brands leverage influencer marketing to drive measurable business results across platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Under his leadership, The Outloud Group has worked with companies including...

Brian Watson: The "Cactus" Legend Brian is essentially the embodiment of the agency's history. He is often cited as the "ultimate homegrown talent," having spent his entire 24-year career at Cactus. Career Arc: He started at the agency as a junior copywriter in the early 2000s and worked his way up to Executive Creative Director before being named Chief Creative Officer in...

Tara DeVeaux is an award-winning marketing executive and brand strategist known for her leadership across advertising, entertainment, and media. She currently serves as CEO of Burrell Communications Group, where she leads the agency’s next phase of growth and cultural impact. Prior to Burrell, she was Chief Marketing Officer at Wild Card Creative Group and BBDO New York, helping drive major campai...

As of May 2026, Julie Levin has just stepped into a major leadership role at Stagwell (the global "challenger" network known for its focus on AI and digital transformation). In late April 2026, Stagwell revamped its growth strategy, and Julie was named SVP, Strategic Growth for Marketing Services . Julie is described as a "dual-perspective" leader who understands both the agenc...

Verena Gründel is a leading figure in the European digital marketing and media landscape. As of 2026, she serves as the Director of Brand & Communications for DMEXCO (Digital Marketing & Exposition), one of the world's largest digital industry events held annually in Cologne. The Voice of DMEXCO: Beyond her leadership role on the management board, she is the official host and face of t...

Colleen Meenan is an Executive Vice President at Publicis Media , where she focuses on leading media strategy, client partnerships, and integrated marketing solutions for major brands. She is recognized for her leadership in modern, data-driven media planning and helping clients navigate the evolving digital and advertising landscape. Brad Feinberg is Vice President of Media & Marketing Operat...

Robyn Freye is a powerhouse in the advertising and marketing world, currently serving as the President and Chief Growth Officer of CourtAvenue. Appointed in early 2026, she is the first person to hold this dual leadership title for the agency, where she leads global growth strategy, M&A initiatives (with a focus on AI and data platforms), and unified client leadership. Career Highlights &...

Joel Halpern is a seasoned brand strategist, creative director, and marketing executive with over 20 years of experience building multimillion-dollar businesses from the ground up. As the CMO of Morningside Brands, he leads the global marketing and brand positioning for a high-end portfolio of international spirits, including Alma Del Jaguar Tequila. Career Highlights & Expertise The "Zer...

Harris Wilkinson is an award-winning creative leader in advertising and entertainment, currently serving as Chief Creative Officer at TMA, a global experiential and branded entertainment agency (with offices in LA, Chicago, NYC, Dallas). He oversees all creative output, blending storytelling across film, TV, advertising, activations, and sponsorships for clients like Die Hard, State Farm, Bet Rive...

Jen Seregos is a serial entrepreneur and the Founder and Lead Strategist of Athena Digital, a boutique performance marketing agency based in Boulder, Colorado. Professional Background Athena Digital: Jen founded the agency with a "client-first" philosophy after observing businesses struggle with larger agencies that prioritized their own scaling over client results. She remains hands-on...

Matt Prater is a veteran digital strategist and executive leader at OuterBox, where he currently serves as the EVP of Innovation. With a career deeply rooted in the evolution of search engine optimization (SEO) and paid media, Prater is responsible for driving the agency’s technological advancements and ensuring their service offerings stay ahead of industry shifts. Professional Impact at OuterBox...

Colin Jeavons is a seasoned British entrepreneur and digital media pioneer with over 30 years of experience in publishing, search technology, and e-commerce innovation. He is currently the Founder and CEO of Nomix Group , a venture studio that operates at the intersection of AI, performance media, and retail. A self-described "product-first" leader, Jeavons began his career in the UK pub...

Robert Davidman is a prominent media executive and entrepreneur based in New York City, best known as a co-founder and partner at Fearless Agency . He is frequently recognized for his early career success working alongside Mark Cuban at Broadcast.com , where he helped develop the internet broadcast business model before it was sold to Yahoo for nearly $6 billion in 1999. Here is a breakdown of his...

Ameetess Dira is a strategic marketing leader and the current Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Petzey , a digital health platform disrupting the veterinary space with on-demand pet telehealth. Known for her "purpose-driven" approach to brand building, Ameetess has become a prominent voice in the 2024–2026 marketing landscape, particularly within the pet-tech and health-tech sectors. CMO...

David Berkowitz is a world-renowned marketing strategist, community builder, and author who has spent over 20 years at the intersection of technology and brand communication. He is currently the Principal of Serial Marketer , a consultancy where he generates demand for growth-mode technology firms and agencies. Community Architect: David founded Serial Marketers , a thriving community of over 3,50...

Les Kollegian is an award-winning creative director and brand strategist with over 25 years of experience in the advertising and design industry. As the founder of Jacob Tyler , a global creative agency headquartered in San Diego, he has built a reputation for blending high-level brand storytelling with data-driven marketing results. Agency Leadership: Under his guidance, Jacob Tyler has evolved f...

David Zucker is a senior marketing executive and currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer at King Ranch, a historic U.S. agribusiness known for ranching, farming, and retail operations. He is an analytically driven, “AI-forward” marketing leader with over 20 years of experience in digital strategy, brand development, and customer acquisition. Before joining King Ranch, Zucker held leadership ro...

Timothy Peterson is a forward-thinking executive and strategist serving as the President and CEO of Rob Roy . He is recognized for his expertise at the intersection of retail innovation, artificial intelligence, and evolving consumer demographics—specifically Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Under Peterson’s leadership, Rob Roy has focused on navigating the shift from "AI hype" to "AI utility.&...

Grace Teng is a highly seasoned advertising executive with over 20 years of experience spanning politics, advertising, and media strategy. At Zambezi, one of the largest female-owned independent agencies in the U.S., she serves as Partner and Chief Media Officer. She also leads Scale by Zambezi, the agency’s dedicated media arm which she helped grow into a division managing over $50 million in bil...

The Ad Podcast Gen Z edition with guest host Lauren Bennett. Jonathan Lee is a standout student and entrepreneur from University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business. He was recently recognized as one of Poets & Quants’ Best & Brightest Business Majors in the Class of 2026. Jonathan is the co-founder of CraveX, a science-backed health startup rethinking how we approach sugar cr...

Erich Parker, a seasoned marketing leader who currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Integrated Media at Blue Chip Worldwide. Based in Chicago, he is a key driver of the agency’s media strategy, specializing in bridging the gap between brand storytelling and transactional shopper marketing. Professional Background Blue Chip Worldwide (2013–Present): Erich has spent over a decade rising t...

Daale Carter is a powerhouse creative executive and the first-ever Global Chief Client Experience Officer at BBDO Worldwide. Appointed in early 2026, her role signals a major evolution for the agency network, shifting the focus from traditional "account management" toward a holistic, experience-driven partnership model. Professional Background Agency Pedigree: Before stepping into her gl...

Brook Jay is the Founder and CEO of All Terrain Collective, widely recognized as the first female-founded experiential marketing agency in the U.S.. With over 25 years of industry experience, she is a pioneer in shifting brands from "shouting" one-way advertisements to creating authentic, 360-degree consumer encounters. Professional Background Agency Leadership: She co-founded All Terrai...

Aaron and Samantha Edwards are a sibling entrepreneurial duo based in New York City, best known as the founders of THE CHARLES GROUP, a premier, strategy-first creative agency. The Charles Group Founded in 2011, The Charles Group has grown into an award-winning agency with offices in New York, Chicago, and London. The agency is known for its focus on high-end luxury, lifestyle, and financial servi...