STEVE MCCLELLAN

Articles by Stephen All articles by Stephen

• Dentsu Canada Appoints Elkouby Chief Creative Officer in MAD on 04/30/2025
  

  The two-decade-plus industry veteran most recently served as Chief Creative Officer of VML. He has worked with brands such as Mazda, Audi, The Royal Canadian Legion, Coca-Cola,

• Study Finds Advertisers Prioritizing Performance Over Brand Safety in MAD on 04/30/2025
  

  The Advertiser Perceptions study also found a significant decline in organizations' actions or priorities to support quality news sites and credible journalism.

• Publicis Acquires Sports Marketing Agency Adopt in MAD on 04/29/2025
  

  It was founded in 2021 by Lebron James' agent Rich Paul and former Nike executives David Creech and Josh Moore.

• American Standard Celebrates Sesquicentennial With 'Down Payment' Contest in MAD on 04/29/2025
  

  The contest and ad campaign supporting it are from agency Hanson Dodge.

• AKQA Founder Ahmed To Launch New Agency On May 1 in MAD on 04/28/2025
  

  Ajaz Ahmed spoke publicly for the first time about his dispute with WPP CEO Mark Read over the direction of AKQA that led to his resignation last fall.

• Giant 3-D OOH Jellyfish Showcases Georgia Aquarium in Out to Launch on 04/27/2025
  

• PMG Taps IPG Vet Stoller To Lead Media in MAD on 04/25/2025
  

  Stoller was most recently Global Chief Innovation Officer at IPG's UM. At the same time, he was executive vice president-managing partner of the IPG Media Lab.

• WPP Q1 Falls 2.7%, Maintains Outlook Despite Macro Worries in MAD on 04/25/2025
  

  The Q1 decline was expected. CEO Mark Read said the firm has so far seen no "significant change in client spending," despite elevated macro stresses on the economy.

• ACC Ups Floyd To Chief Community And Performance Officer in People on the Move on 04/24/2025
  

• Marcom M&A Activity Fell Sharply In 2024 in MAD on 04/24/2025
  

  A new report from COMvergence finds that deal activity fell 37% last year for a total of just 52 transactions. From 2016 through 2024 there were 766 acquisitions in the sector.

Comments by Stephen All comments by Stephen

• Interpublic's R/GA Taken Private By Truelink Capital by Steve McClellan (MAD on 03/03/2025)
  

  Good question, Scott. Not disclosed so far. 

• International Advertising Association Establishes North American Chapter by Richard Whitman (Mediapsssst on 03/17/2023)
  

  Michael, the IAA has had a New York chapter but has never had a North America chapter. This will encompass all of the US, Canada and Mexico, according to the group. Thank you for rasing the point as the article should have provided that background. 

• How Much Does Gun Advertising Contribute To All The Killing? by Richard Whitman (Mediapsssst on 06/01/2022)
  

  Steve, here is a link to the NYT story referrenced in the Whitman column. It does not show the videogame type ads described in the piece. It does link to a Daniel Defense ad featuring children. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/28/business/daniel-defense-rifle-texas-shooting-gun.html?searchResultPosition=1

• New Era At Accenture Interactive As Droga Is Poised To Take The Reins by Richard Whitman (Mediapsssst on 08/23/2021)
  

  Oops, thanks for pointing that out John.

• 4A's Creates Agency Review Participation Agreement by Richard Whitman (Mediapsssst on 08/24/2021)
  

  Hi Michael, I think you're right--an effort to make clients aware agencies have major issues with the current process, particularly when the client doesn't retain professional help with the search. No power per se. 

• Agency Review Activity Spikes After Quiet 2020 by Steve McClellan (MAD on 07/09/2021)
  

  Hi Michael, the $544 million figure is a net figure that does take into account losses. No doubt marketers are pressing for lower fees/prices whereever they can find them, with all suppliers. But the spike probably does reflect the fact that marketers put off reviews last year to deal with other more pressing COVID-related issues. 

• Imagine A Pro Sports Team Called The 'New York Jews' by Richard Whitman (Mediapsssst on 07/13/2020)
  

  Ed, I think the hockey team has a claim on the Capitals name there, although St. Louis had both a baseball Cardinals and a football Cardinals for some time. To your broader point, yeah, there are a lot options for non-offensive names. 

• Despite Rumors To The Contrary, Manly Men Drink Rose by Richard Whitman (Mediapsssst on 08/06/2017)
  

  Thanks Nicholas, as editor of this column I should have caught that. Appreciate that you did. 

• Brands Failing To Provide Quality Training In Media Skills by Steve McClellan (MAD on 10/28/2016)
  

  It is J.R., although it's usually not referred to as 'educatiing' and frequently it is people below the c suite. But often agencies meet with clients to 'brief' them on this or that issue. Which makes sense given that the former are supposed to be experts in the field. 

• Agencies React To Finger-Pointing, 4As Calls ANA Report Anonymous, One-Sided by Steve McClellan (MAD on 06/07/2016)
  

  Thanks for catching that Michael, now fixed.

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