#72: How DEPT built a global agency around marketing and technology, with Dimi Albers

#72: How DEPT built a global agency around marketing and technology, with Dimi Albers

Welcome to Agency Business. Dimi Albers [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimialbers/], CEO of DEPT [https://www.deptagency.com/], joins Brian Wieser [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwieser/] and Olivia Morley [https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviamorley/] this week to discuss how the marketing and technology company has scaled globally while operating as one agency. Dimi discussed DEPT’s expansion across Europe, the Americas and APAC, why the company sees cultural alignment as central to successful acquisitions, and how its independent structure shapes its competition with holding companies, consultancies and systems integrators. He also discussed DEPT’s technology platform, its private equity backing and why the company remains focused on managed services rather than a pure SaaS model. The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network [https://news.marketecture.tv/podcasts]. Reach Out: 1. Subscribe for free to the Agency Business newsletter. [https://agency-business.captivate.fm/newsletter] 2. Interested in joining Agency Business as a guest? Submit a pitch. [https://agency-business.captivate.fm/pitch] 3. Listen to 📊 The Madison and Wall Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/5FBqqS9Do80xARYbxTXIoP]: Brian and Luke Stillman open up about Madison and Wall's latest work — plus crucial economic, financial, and industry trends. 4. Listen to 🎬 Screen & Sponsor [https://open.spotify.com/show/2WueG1iSTM1j31hYxaoCWR]: Olivia & VaynerMedia's Jessie Holder explore how brands are shaping Hollywood.

#71: How Conscious Minds built production into its agency model, with Blake Heal

Welcome to Agency Business. Blake Heal [https://www.linkedin.com/in/blake-heal-98696710/], founder and CEO of Conscious Minds [https://www.cm.studio/], joins Brian Wieser [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwieser/] and Olivia Morley [https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviamorley/] this week to discuss how the agency built production into its model from the beginning. Blake shares how Conscious Minds evolved from the viral video era into a social and culture-focused agency working with large brands including Nike, Starbucks, Yahoo and Google. He also describes: * How the agency’s production capabilities shape its work * How faster social timelines differ from traditional TV production * How AI is affecting content costs, internal operations and future billing conversations. The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network [https://news.marketecture.tv/podcasts]. Reach Out: 1. Subscribe for free to the Agency Business newsletter. [https://agency-business.captivate.fm/newsletter] 2. Interested in joining Agency Business as a guest? Submit a pitch. [https://agency-business.captivate.fm/pitch] 3. Listen to 📊 The Madison and Wall Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/5FBqqS9Do80xARYbxTXIoP]: Brian and Luke Stillman open up about Madison and Wall's latest work — plus crucial economic, financial, and industry trends. 4. Listen to 🎬 Screen & Sponsor [https://open.spotify.com/show/2WueG1iSTM1j31hYxaoCWR]: Olivia & VaynerMedia's Jessie Holder explore how brands are shaping Hollywood.

#70: Adweek's Alison Weissbrot on agency business trends and coverage

Welcome to Agency Business. Alison Weissbrot [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-weissbrot-74323466/], executive editor at Adweek [https://www.adweek.com/contributor/alison-weissbrot/], joins Brian Wieser [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwieser/] and Olivia Morley [https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviamorley/] to discuss the agency business from her vantage point covering the industry. Alison talks about the pressure holding company CEOs face around growth and AI transformation, why independent agencies continue to generate industry attention, and how private equity is shaping parts of the indie agency market. She also discusses what makes agency AI claims credible, where agencies are investing beyond AI, and why Cannes Lions remains central to the industry even as its role continues to evolve. The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network [https://news.marketecture.tv/podcasts]. Reach Out: 1. Subscribe for free to the Agency Business newsletter. [https://agency-business.captivate.fm/newsletter] 2. Interested in joining Agency Business as a guest? Submit a pitch. [https://agency-business.captivate.fm/pitch] 3. Listen to 📊 The Madison and Wall Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/5FBqqS9Do80xARYbxTXIoP]: Brian and Luke Stillman open up about Madison and Wall's latest work — plus crucial economic, financial, and industry trends. 4. Listen to 🎬 Screen & Sponsor [https://open.spotify.com/show/2WueG1iSTM1j31hYxaoCWR]: Olivia & VaynerMedia's Jessie Holder explore how brands are shaping Hollywood.

#69: Crispin’s next chapter, with Maggie Malek

Welcome to Agency Business. Maggie Malek [https://www.linkedin.com/in/magsmac/], CEO of Crispin [https://www.crispin.com/], joins Brian Wieser [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwieser/] and Olivia Morley [https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviamorley/] to discuss the Stagwell [https://www.stagwellglobal.com/] agency’s next chapter. She discusses the agency's history, and the 2023 combination of MMI, Crispin (then CPB), and Observatory [https://www.adweek.com/agencies/four-stagwell-agencies-combine-to-form-new-crispin-porter-bogusky/]. Maggie also discusses how Crispin is building around creative, media and social under one P&L, and how Crispin is balancing its creative roots with client demand for integrated media, social, and creator capabilities. The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network [https://news.marketecture.tv/podcasts]. Reach Out: 1. Subscribe for free to the Agency Business newsletter. [https://agency-business.captivate.fm/newsletter] 2. Interested in joining Agency Business as a guest? Submit a pitch. [https://agency-business.captivate.fm/pitch] 3. Listen to 📊 The Madison and Wall Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/5FBqqS9Do80xARYbxTXIoP]: Brian and Luke Stillman open up about Madison and Wall's latest work — plus crucial economic, financial, and industry trends. 4. Listen to 🎬 Screen & Sponsor [https://open.spotify.com/show/2WueG1iSTM1j31hYxaoCWR]: Olivia & VaynerMedia's Jessie Holder explore how brands are shaping Hollywood.

#68: Scaling Mediaplus in North America, with Tamara Alesi

WELCOME TO AGENCY BUSINESS. Tamara Alesi [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaraalesi/], CEO of Mediaplus North America [https://www.house-of-communication.com/de/en/brands/mediaplus.html], joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley to discuss how the Serviceplan [https://www.house-of-communication.com/de/en/brands/serviceplan.html]-owned media agency is building its presence in the U.S. and Canada. Tamara explains how Mediaplus is approaching growth in North America, including its reliance on global client relationships, local market development, and a measured, profitability-focused expansion strategy. She also outlines the agency’s “house of communication” model, integrating media, creative, and technology, and shares her perspective on talent, AI, and the trade-offs between independent and holding company structures as agencies navigate industry-wide change. The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network [https://news.marketecture.tv/podcasts]. Reach Out: 1. Subscribe for free to the Agency Business newsletter. [https://agency-business.captivate.fm/newsletter] 2. Interested in joining Agency Business as a guest? Submit a pitch. [https://agency-business.captivate.fm/pitch] 3. Listen to 📊 The Madison and Wall Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/5FBqqS9Do80xARYbxTXIoP]: Brian and Luke Stillman open up about Madison and Wall's latest work — plus crucial economic, financial, and industry trends. 4. Listen to 🎬 Screen & Sponsor [https://open.spotify.com/show/2WueG1iSTM1j31hYxaoCWR]: Olivia & VaynerMedia's Jessie Holder explore how brands are shaping Hollywood.