Agency Business

#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.

#67: Growing a media agency into creative and global services, with Kepler's Remy Stiles

WELCOME TO AGENCY BUSINESS. Remy Stiles [https://www.linkedin.com/in/remy-stiles-1271068/], global CEO of Kepler [https://www.keplergrp.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17758294493&gbraid=0AAAAACdJkDp55JmkReqXJPI98tTgJfI7W&gclid=CjwKCAjwtcHPBhADEiwAWo3sJuQruFdOMH5cCi2SVL7GEjMHhW5KHwQ-J6kXZUQZ4-EwOFob7krxXRoCJL0QAvD_BwE], joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley to discuss the agency’s evolution from its programmatic roots into a full-service, data-driven business. Founded out of MediaMath [https://www.businessinsider.com/mediamath-the-rise-fall-and-return-2023-12], Kepler was built around audience-first, technology-led thinking at a time when those approaches were still emerging, and has since expanded into creative, global operations and new business growth. 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.

#66: Running an agency built on retail performance, with Michael Magnusson

WELCOME TO AGENCY BUSINESS. Michael Magnusson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-magnusson-8874422/], founder and CEO of Pinnacle Advertising [https://pinnacleadvertising.com/], joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley to discuss what it means to run an agency built on retail performance and measurable outcomes. Michael explains how that focus shapes team structure, client relationships, and day-to-day decision-making, as well as how the agency operates in a market defined by consolidation and evolving client demands. 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.