Publicis Groupe vs Stagwell

Coca-Cola CMO Reveals Criteria for Next Agency Partner

Coca-Cola's Chief Marketing and Customer Commercial Officer, Manolo Arroyo, outlined his agency selection criteria at ADWEEK's Brandweek conference. With the beverage giant's $4 billion global media, data, and tech account in review, Arroyo emphasized the need for deeper integration with creators/influencers, retail media, and strong capabilities in tying investment to sales. He noted the importance of shifting metrics from brand love to actions and consumption. Incumbent WPP is favored to retain the business, with Publicis Groupe withdrawing to focus on PepsiCo's account. The remarks signal a strategic focus on performance-driven marketing and commerce integration in the next agency partnership.

• Coca-Cola's global media, data, and tech account worth $4 billion is in review.
• Coca-Cola CMO Manolo Arroyo said at Brandweek he prioritizes creator/influencer integration, retail media, and sales attribution in agency partners.
• WPP is the incumbent and favored to win the global account; Publicis Groupe withdrew from the pitch.

Axa and Publicis Sapient Partner to Build Global AI Hub

Axa, the French insurance group, has entered a strategic partnership with Publicis Sapient, a subsidiary of Publicis Groupe, to accelerate its enterprise-wide AI transformation. The collaboration focuses on advancing Axa's Global AI Hub, which provides a vendor-neutral infrastructure for implementing, managing, and operating AI capabilities across the group. The first version of the hub was deployed in July and is now used by five Axa entities: Germany, France, Switzerland, the UK, and Axa XL. Use cases include automating car damage claims, handling customer emails, and enterprise knowledge management. The hub aims to ensure governance, FinOps, SafetyOps, security, compliance, and human oversight throughout the AI lifecycle. Both companies are headquartered in France, and Axa has previously worked with Publicis Groupe's agencies for advertising campaigns.

• Axa and Publicis Sapient have formed a strategic partnership to develop a Global AI Hub.
• The Global AI Hub was first deployed in July 2026 and is now used by five Axa entities.
• The hub provides a vendor-neutral infrastructure for scaling AI agents across Axa's operations.

Publicis Lands PepsiCo's Global Media Business, Withdraws From Coke Pitch

Publicis Groupe has been appointed PepsiCo's exclusive global media agency after a capabilities review, under a new AI- and data-driven model called 'One PepsiCo.' This win spans over 200 markets and displaces Omnicom's OMD, which held the account for over two decades, though Omnicom remains for creative, sports, and PR. To avoid a conflict, Publicis withdrew from Coca-Cola's global media pitch within 24 hours, despite holding Coca-Cola's $700 million North America account. This move highlights the debate over whether client conflict rules are outdated, as agencies like Dentsu handle multiple competing car brands in Japan. Publicis's data-led approach, using Epsilon and CoreAI, underscores the modern reality where many agencies serve rival brands.

• Publicis was appointed PepsiCo's exclusive global media partner after a capabilities review, under the 'One PepsiCo' model.
• Publicis withdrew from Coca-Cola's global media pitch within 24 hours of winning PepsiCo, to avoid conflict of interest.
• Publicis still holds Coca-Cola's North America media account worth over $700 million, won from WPP in March 2025.

Liz Rutgersson Named CEO of Stagwell's Assembly

Stagwell-owned agency Assembly has appointed Liz Rutgersson as its new CEO, with a global and North American remit. Rutgersson, who previously served as CEO of Dentsu's iProspect, will start in the role on Monday. She is tasked with driving growth, bolstering client partnerships, and building long-lasting relationships. Assembly also announced that Connie Chan has been named CEO of Assembly in the APAC region. Rutgersson's preliminary conversations with CEO Mark Penn and Stagwell leadership indicate alignment on making Assembly an 'agency for the future.' Rutgersson told ADWEEK she chose Assembly because of its nimbleness combined with the scale offered by Stagwell.

• Liz Rutgersson named CEO of Assembly, effective Monday.
• Rutgersson previously was CEO at Dentsu's iProspect.
• Connie Chan appointed CEO of Assembly in APAC.

Stagwell Expands Strategic Partnership with Adobe to Build the Future of Enterprise Marketing Together

Stagwell announces an expanded strategic partnership with Adobe to jointly build the future of enterprise marketing.

Reach TV Brings Streaming Ads to U.S. Airports

Reach TV, a Stagwell-owned streaming network, operates screens at 2,400 airport gates and in 500,000 hotel rooms across North America, reaching over 51 million travelers monthly. The company monetizes in-airport CTV-like inventory for advertisers via national and local spots sold through direct deals, private marketplaces and auctions via DSPs/SSPs. Reach TV licensed all 104 FIFA World Cup matches from Fox Sports and ran experiential fan-zone activations at airports. It uses TSA travel data, mobile location data, credit-bureau sources and Nielsen ratings to guide programming and measure ad effectiveness (brand lift, impressions).

• Reach TV has screens at 2,400 airport gates and in 500,000 hotel rooms across North America, reaching more than 51 million travelers a month.
• Reach TV is Stagwell-owned and bought the remnants of CNN’s airport network in 2021.
• Reach TV licensed and aired all 104 FIFA World Cup matches via a partnership with Fox Sports and created airport fan-zone activations.