News

Enjoyed your holiday? Here are the big stories you’ve missed over the break

Mumbrella is well and truly back for 2024, and hopefully, so are you!

To make things easy as you settle back in from your break, we’ve put together some of the big stories you might have missed since we switched off our daily newsletter for Christmas.

Google moves $40 million media account to EssenceMediacom

Google consolidated its local media account with GroupM’s EssenceMediacom, following a closed pitch with incumbent PHD.

More movement at dentsu amid pre-Christmas redundancies

Following reports of Ben Shepherd’s resignation as dentsu Media’s chief investment officer, Mumbrella confirmed a number of senior redundancies had also taken place at agency ahead of the Christmas break.

Ben Shepherd joins Schwartz Media as CEO

Within days of announcing his exit from dentsu, it was revealed that Shepherds next gig would be as CEO for independent publisher Schwartz Media.

Aldi removes Christmas ad after Ad Standards breach

Aldi Australia pulled its 60-second Christmas spot from circulation following an Ad Standards ruling that a scene featuring the indoor use of a barbeque was in breach of the AANA’s health and safety standards.

VML names ANZ CEO and APAC leadership ahead of merger

WPP announced the leadership structure for the newly merged VML, with VMLY&R ANZ CEO Tom Tearle to helm the agency locally, while Wunderman Thompson CEO Gavin Bain was named chief consulting officer.

Airbnb slugged with $15 million penalty for misleading Aussie customers

The Federal Court ordered Airbnb to pay $15 million in penalties for misleading Australian customers between 2018 and 2021. Around 70,000 customers were affected by misleading prices that were assumed to be in Australian dollars but were charged in US dollars.

Aldi and Woolworths Group ditch January 26 merchandise as Coles confirms it will not follow suit

The issue of Australia Day merchandise has divided grocery giants and consumers, as Coles diverges from Aldi and Woolworths Group’s moves not to stock Australia-themed accessories ahead of the January 26 public holiday.

Google Chrome officially starts blocking cookies: ‘The best thing that ever happened to advertising’

Google commenced the first step of its cookie deprecation timeline, allowing Chrome browser users to disable third-party cookies.

Former Nike and Koala marketer announced as CMO for Aussie independent brewery

Mountain Culture announced Bradley Firth would be joining the craft brewery as its first chief marketing officer following a three-year stint as VP global brand strategy at Koala.

MLA bridges The Generation Gap in new summer lamb ad

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) launched its annual summer lamb ad, this time skewering the generation gap that seems to divide the nation.

ABC accused of sacking Antoinette Lattouf for ‘expressing political opinion’ and ‘because of her ethnicity’

Antoinette Lattouf is taking legal action against the ABC for what she claims was unfair dismissal.

 

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