AVANTGARDE vs Havas

ProSieben Show Producer Launches Tween Skincare Brand Milly&Elly

Daisy Rosemeyer-Elbers, former ProSieben executive producer known for Joko and Klaas shows, has co-founded Milly&Elly GmbH with Andjela Emmerich, a former Avantgarde agency employee. The startup targets the gap in the German market for skincare tailored to girls aged 10-14, offering four products formulated with mild ingredients. The brand launches after 1.5 years of development and six-figure investment. Dermatologist Christina Schnopp advises. Products will initially sell online and later expand to drugstores. The company is based at Bavaria Film grounds in Geiselgasteig.

• Daisy Rosemeyer-Elbers and Andjela Emmerich founded Milly&Elly GmbH.
• Milly&Elly launches four skincare products for girls aged 10-14.
• The brand required 1.5 years of development and a six-figure investment.

Christine Thienemann Founds Civina Agency

Christine Thienemann has founded Civina, a live-communication agency with offices in Zurich and Davos. Civina GmbH was registered in the canton of Graubünden in February 2026, with Thienemann as sole shareholder and managing director. The agency focuses on bespoke live communication formats and event production for brands, including product and brand launches, meetings, incentive travel, and corporate/client events. Thienemann previously served as Managing Director of Avantgarde Switzerland (since 2023) and has worked with clients such as American Express, the Audi Revolut F1 Team and Lucid Motors. Her prior roles include positions at Avantgarde (1997–2006), BMW Motorsport, Leo Burnett (Cape Town) and General Motors (experiential marketing for Cadillac and Chevrolet in Switzerland).

• Christine Thienemann founded Civina GmbH and is its sole shareholder and managing director.
• Civina GmbH was entered in the commercial register of the canton of Graubünden in February 2026.
• Civina operates offices in Zurich and Davos and offers bespoke live-communication and event production services (product/brand launches, meetings, incentive travel, corporate and client events).

AVANTGARDE updates About page: removes Shanghai Managing Director, changes office locations and contact number

The About page no longer lists Dulguun Sanjmyatav as Managing Director – Shanghai. The list of office locations has been reduced, removing Abu Dhabi, Vienna, Singapore, and Stuttgart. The contact phone number changed from a UAE number (+971) to a UK number (+44).

AI's Dual Impact on Agency Staff: Efficiency and Pressure

The article examines how AI is reshaping agency operations, highlighting increased efficiency alongside heightened pressure on staff. WPP plans to cut 1,000 more jobs by end of 2026, adding to 11,000 cuts since early 2025, as part of a strategic shift toward a leaner, AI-enabled business. Other holding companies like Havas have automated processes, with CEO Yannick Bolloré noting they've automated everything possible. A Basis report reveals 70% of agency professionals find their jobs harder than two years ago, and 54% report strained client relationships due to higher expectations and compressed timelines. Anonymous senior agency sources confirm the pressure to 'do more with less' but note morale varies. While AI saves time, especially with agentic AI for client queries, concerns remain about job security, tool proliferation, and the risk of over-reliance on AI for tasks like email writing. The article suggests agencies are adapting, but not without friction.

• WPP plans to cut an additional 1,000 jobs by the end of 2026, after cutting 11,000 since early 2025.
• Havas has automated 'everything we can automate', according to CEO Yannick Bolloré.
• A Basis report found 70% of agency professionals say their jobs are more difficult than two years ago.

LiveRamp Shareholders Approve $2.2B Publicis Deal

LiveRamp shareholders overwhelmingly approved Publicis Groupe’s proposed $2.2 billion acquisition in a vote on Aug. 17, with 92% of represented shares in favor and under 1% against. The transaction, if closed, will make LiveRamp a wholly owned subsidiary of Publicis, raising concerns about LiveRamp’s neutrality and prompting at least one major rival (Omnicom) to begin transitioning away from the platform. Separately, shareholders voted down a proposed $82.6 million “golden parachute” payout for LiveRamp executives, though the article notes that rejection of that provision may not prevent large executive payouts under other terms.

• LiveRamp shareholders approved Publicis Groupe’s $2.2 billion acquisition with 92% of represented shares voting in favor.
• Less than 1% of represented shares voted against the transaction.
• If the deal closes, LiveRamp will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Publicis Groupe.

Holdcos Converge on Integrated, AI-Enabled Agency Model

Major advertising holding companies — Publicis Groupe, Havas, WPP, S4 Capital and Omnicom — are converging on a common model: tearing down internal silos to connect creative, media, data, commerce and technology via AI-enabled platforms and selling capabilities at group level. Recent H1/Q2 results show firms at different stages of this transformation, with Publicis and Omnicom demonstrating momentum, Havas steady growth, and WPP and S4 deeper in turnaround. Cost reductions, reorganisations and reinvestment in AI and talent are recurring themes. The new battleground is execution: which group can best win, retain and grow a greater share of client spend as differentiation becomes more critical despite similar strategic positioning.

• Major holding companies (Publicis, Havas, WPP, S4 Capital, Omnicom) are moving toward integrated, AI-enabled operating models that join creative, media, data, commerce and technology.
• WPP reorganised around four operating units (Creative, Media, Production and Enterprise Solutions) and is working towards £500m of annualised savings by 2028.
• Omnicom describes itself as an “integrated operating company” after acquiring rival IPG and is targeting $1.5bn of cost reductions from the IPG combination by mid-2028.