The ad -- which features Rod Stewart (voicing the role of an animated sea turtle) and Icelandic strongman Hafthor "The Mountain" Bjornsson, among others -- was viewed more than 7 million times in its first 24 hours online.

That's through the first 10 months of the year, and the martech giant's $4.75 billion deal for Marketo is the reason it's top-ranked. Interpublic Group is ranked No. 3.

Tom Punch, who recently left his post as Chief Creative and Commercial Officer, Vice Media, joins the creative marketing and production company Spring Studios as global president and CCO.

UK-based media and marketing consultant ID Comms opened its New York office last week with a bit of fanfare. Tom Denford, one the firm's cofounders (along with David Indo), has relocated to New York and is leading its North America operation as CEO.

According to a report earlier this week, Peterson had a reputation for being a bully. Havas Group issued a short statement late this afternoon saying he was leaving "by mutual consent."

In addition to content firms like the recently acquired MediaMonks, S4 Capital chief Martin Sorrell says he's targeting planning-buying entities and first-party data specialists.

The hire reunites Leece with Havas Group Media CEO Peter Mears, who both worked at Initiative when Mears was president of its North America region and Leece was global chief analytics officer and chief product officer.

MediaCom and Publicis are the new business pitch kings for media and creative agency reviews, respectively, after the first nine months of the year, according to a tally by R3 Worldwide.

The freeze was imposed after the company reported weak third-quarter financial results in late October. Some 2,000 hires may be affected.

Ad agency Duncan Channon has opted to give employees paid time off to volunteer at the polls on Election Day next Tuesday. So far six have taken the agency up on the offer.