Havas Media Network vs PHD

Focus On Fundamentals Over Shiny Objects

This AdExchanger Talks podcast episode features Sharona Sankar-King, chief data and product officer at Havas Media Network, arguing that marketing success depends on fundamentals — customer understanding, aligned data strategy, and clear KPIs — rather than chasing every new AI feature or platform. Sankar-King recommends collecting only the data necessary to answer specific business questions, emphasizes the importance of analytical rigor (“garbage in, garbage out”), and stresses aligning leaders and workflows across intelligence, planning, activation, and measurement. The episode also covers transparency versus black-box platforms, Havas building its own AI operating system, and the role of causal AI in post-MMM measurement.

• Article published on 2026-07-21.
• Podcast episode features Sharona Sankar-King, chief data and product officer at Havas Media Network.
• Sharona Sankar-King said organizations should collect only the data needed for specific questions and outcomes.

Desire as a Competitive Brand Advantage

An ADWEEK House Cannes Lions group chat (created in partnership with Havas) explored how brand desire — distinct from mere visibility — is becoming a key competitive advantage. Speakers from Havas Creative, Havas Media Network, Pantone, Mindscope, beehiiv, SAS, ViiV and TIM Brazil argued that bold brand choices, color psychology, habit formation and founder-led transparency build affinity and trust. Panelists noted technology (including LLM-driven discovery and 'agentic' marketing behaviors) is changing how audiences search for and validate information, increasing the importance of desirability. They also discussed evolving measurement approaches — for example reframing metrics to reach, relationship and revenue — and the need for new frameworks and metrics to better surface actionable insights about brand desirability.

• Article published by ADWEEK and created in partnership with Havas.
• The content summarizes an ADWEEK House Cannes Lions group chat co-hosted with Havas featuring leaders from Havas Creative, Havas Media Network, Pantone, Mindscope, beehiiv, SAS, ViiV and TIM Brazil.
• Mark Sinnock (Global Chief Strategy Officer, Havas Creative) said unapologetic, bold brands create the strongest affinity.

Bose Media Head: Attention Is Proxy, Not Result

Kelly McArdle, Global Head of Media at Bose, argues that attention metrics are a proxy for, not a measure of, business outcomes. She criticizes ROAS for rewarding channels closest to conversion while ignoring demand creation. Her approach includes evaluating reach, attention, memory, incrementality, and contribution together. She defends long-term brand investment against short-term performance pressure, referencing Ehrenberg-Bass Institute and 'The Long and the Short of It'. McArdle also discusses AI's role in accelerating media decision-making and AI discoverability's growing importance. She identifies range, curiosity, and judgment as essential traits for future media leaders. The piece is an interview published ahead of the Drum Awards Festival.

• Kelly McArdle is Global Head of Media at Bose.
• She previously spent nearly a decade at PHD Media.
• She argues that attention is a proxy, not a result, and would not pay a premium for it unless it improves business outcomes.

Mother Berlin's Uber Eats Campaign Stars Bruce Darnell

Mother Berlin has launched its first Germany-wide campaign for Uber Eats, adapting a global creative idea for the local market. Titled 'Du hast dir einen Deal verdient!' ('You've earned yourself a deal'), the campaign features TV personality Bruce Darnell as the new testimonial. In several spots, protagonists endure awkward everyday situations, after which Darnell appears and declares they deserve an Uber Eats deal. The films run on TV and streaming services, supported by social media assets and out-of-home motifs. Franziska Walter, Marketing Director DACH & Poland at Uber, emphasizes Uber Eats' role in daily life. The spot was produced by Tony Petersen Film, directed by Holger Jaquet, with media planning and buying handled by PHD. The creative team includes Alexander Nowak, Christina Rankel, and Christian Lotz at Mother Berlin.

• Mother Berlin created its first Germany-wide campaign for Uber Eats.
• Bruce Darnell appears as the new testimonial in the campaign.
• The campaign slogan is 'Du hast dir einen Deal verdient!'.

New WARC Podcast: Agentic AI and the Delegation of Consumer Choice

PHD has released a new WARC podcast on agentic AI and the delegation of consumer choice, dated August 21, 2026.