Unilever

Diageo launches $1bn cost-cutting programme

Diageo reported net sales of $19.6bn for the year ending June 2026, a 2% decline, while operating profit rose 2%. Its initial 'Accelerate' cost programme delivered $540m in savings, including $230m from advertising, promotions and trade investment driven by reduced development costs, more efficient targeting and "smart media buying." The company has now announced a second cost-reduction plan aiming to save $1bn over the next three years and will incur $1.2bn of restructuring costs ($1.1bn to overhaul its operational framework and $100m for supply-chain changes). CEO Dave Lewis said brands are not for sale and ad spend as a percentage of net sales has fallen from 18% to 16%. Diageo's share price rose about 8% after the announcement.

Unilever’s Yokoi: Intelligence Drives Brand Growth

Kantar and Unilever executives say brand consistency plus actionable intelligence — including AI — are key drivers of long-term growth. Kantar’s BrandZ Global Top 100 reached a combined value of $13 trillion, up 22% year-on-year, with four brands now exceeding $1 trillion. Jeff Greenspoon (Kantar) and Ryu Yokoi (Unilever) argue that AI accelerates marketing execution but that the leading brands use intelligence to build consistent, culturally resonant identities over time. Unilever has shifted to a social-first approach and developed a “brandverse” framework to maintain consistency across touchpoints; Dove’s Cannes Grand Prix campaign used generative AI to demonstrate how long-term brand behaviour can shape LLM outputs. Both speakers emphasise disciplined cross-channel measurement, attribution modelling and cultural insight as foundations for converting intelligence into growth.

Aéropostale backs creator-led episodic shows

Digiday’s Future of TV Briefing (Aug. 5, 2026) highlights Aéropostale’s investment in creator-led episodic series and includes a Q&A with Marisa Thalberg, EVP and chief customer and marketing officer at Catalyst Brands. The briefing covers creator-driven content strategies, notes industry topics such as Disney+’s planned overhaul and Netflix’s creator-brand demand, and references streaming ad topics like FreeWheel’s show-level reporting. The piece is part of Digiday+’s weekly Future of TV Briefing for industry subscribers.