Observed Signal · Sep 29, 2026 · Market Signal · Source: BBDO · Impact: 4/5
Applebee’s turns to BBDO Chicago in a bid to regain growth
Applebee’s has selected BBDO Chicago as its new creative agency, tasking the Omnicom shop with making the chain’s longtime identity as a neighborhood gathering place more relevant to today’s diners.
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Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Dave & Buster's Appoints Gut and Mediaplus as New Agencies
Dave & Buster's, the restaurant and entertainment chain, has appointed Gut as its creative agency of record and Mediaplus as its media agency of record following a pitch that included incumbents Deloitte Digital and Dentsu X. The move comes as the company seeks to reverse a 13-quarter sales decline. The CMO, Jeremy Tucker, stated that the brand awareness is around 90%, so the focus is not on a brand refresh but on driving foot traffic. The new agencies will work to make the 45-year-old brand relevant again, leveraging their expertise to attract more customers to locations.
BBDO NY CEO and CCO to Depart
Emma Armstrong, CEO of BBDO New York, and Michael Aimette, Chief Creative Officer, are departing the agency. This follows Omnicom's acquisition of IPG, which led BBDO to absorb creative rival FCB. Chief Client Officer Kelli MacDonald, another FCB alum, is also leaving for a new opportunity. The exits occur just 10 months after Omnicom closed its $13 billion acquisition of IPG, creating the largest agency holding company.
TBWA Refreshes Global Visual Identity, Emphasizes Human Touch
TBWA unveiled a refreshed global visual identity on Aug. 4, 2026, centered on handcrafted designs and a stronger “human touch.” The rollout comes eight months after TBWA was named one of Omnicom’s three major networks following Omnicom’s acquisition of Interpublic Group. The article announcing the rebrand was written by Tim Nudd and published on Ad Age (Crain Communications) on Aug. 4, 2026. The change positions TBWA’s creative identity around artisanal visual elements rather than signaling any operational or organizational update beyond its earlier emergence within Omnicom’s network structure.
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