On this episode we’re joined by Steve Rowbotham, CEO & Founder of Navigator, to unpack fragmentation, arguably one of the biggest challenges in modern marketing. Steve explains how aggregating travel audience data can unlock true scale for commerce media, why audience and creative need to work hand in hand, and what the rise of agentic media buying really means in practice. It’s a clear, practical look at how marketers can cut through complexity and drive better results.

Fergus McCallum, Chief Executive Officer at TBWA\MCR, joins us to talk about the comeback of humor in advertising. We dive into why brands moved away from funny campaigns, how humor can tackle sensitive topics, and what it takes to make a joke land without backfiring. Fergus shares examples from his work and insights on how humor is connecting with audiences again—especially as platforms and Gen Z shape the future of advertising.

On this episode of AW360, we’re joined by Tom Evans, Founder & Creative Lead at BigSmall, to talk about why the most powerful creative work doesn’t start with campaigns—it starts with clarity. Tom shares how defining a single, unarguable idea at the center of a business can align teams, unlock better creativity, and drive real growth. It’s a fresh, practical perspective on cutting through complexity and building brands from the inside out.

Chris Elsheikhi, VP of Demand Generation at Usercentrics, breaks down why today’s performance marketing engine is stuck on a “hamster wheel” of short-term optimization—and why more data, more spend, and more AI aren’t the answers marketers think they are.

Instead, he makes the case for a fundamental shift: treating consent and trust as core performance signals, not compliance hurdles. From the hidden gaps in conversion tracking to the growing AI trust deficit among consumers, Chris outlines how leading teams are rethinking their measurement stack—connecting consent data, analytics, and activation to drive more accurate, sustainable growth.

If AI is only as good as the signal it’s fed, this episode is a wake-up call: fix the signal, or risk scaling flawed insights at machine speed.

Darren Thompson, Vice President of Sales at Adlook, joins us to talk about why the open web is becoming a powerful alternative to walled gardens in an AI-driven landscape. He shares why legacy metrics like clicks and impressions are falling short, how attention and outcomes are taking center stage, and how deep learning is helping advertisers predict performance and reduce waste before a bid is even placed. We also get into privacy-first targeting, the shift away from identity, and what marketers need to rethink to unlock real results.

In this episode, Sean Betts, Chief AI & Innovation Officer at Omnicom Media UK, joins us to explore how AI is fundamentally changing how consumers discover brands. He explains why we’re moving from clicks to recommendations, why visibility and accuracy now matter more than ever, and how a shrinking consideration set is raising the stakes for marketers. We also get into trust, transparency, and what brands need to do—from better data to AI-ready content—to show up and stay competitive in an AI-mediated world.

In this episode, Helenor Gilmour, Head of Beano Brain, joins us to share insights on Gen Alpha, the youngest and savviest consumers today. We explore what makes brands “cool” with kids, how heritage names like Lego and KitKat stay relevant, and why safety, humor, and authenticity are shaping the future of marketing to this generation. Helenor breaks down the top brands kids love and what lessons marketers can take from them.

On this episode, we sit down with Jessica McGorgan, VP of Growth at The Trade Desk, to talk about how channels like CTV and retail media are changing from pure awareness plays into full-funnel drivers, why connected campaigns are more effective (and less fatiguing), and how bringing data and teams together leads to smarter, more cohesive customer experiences.