Digiday Daily

August 31, 2026

According to one industry consultant who exchanged anonymity for candor, Cindy Rose’s accessible, hands-on leadership style and willingness to join pitch efforts has energized WPP’s client-facing teams. But while the holdco boss has been in place for a busy year, the agency group has a long way to go if it’s to find a secure business model.

TOP STORY

Evolving Agencies

As WPP’s Cindy Rose marks a year as CEO, turnaround is underway but far from certain

The holdco boss has been in place for a busy year, but the agency group has a long way to go if it’s to find a secure business model.

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW

Your last chance to save on Digiday Media Awards entries is Sept. 25. Showcase the innovative companies, campaigns and teams modernizing digital media, and join past honorees including The New York Times, People Inc. and PopSugar.
As AI becomes standard for scaling marketing, leaders are finding ways to adapt. More organizations are using AI to produce more with fewer resources — but the advantage comes from how creative and technical marketers activate AI, not just add it to their tech stack. Partner insights from Contentful.
Fragmented buyer signals hold back B2B marketing. AI has raised buyers’ expectations for speed, personalization and efficiency. Yet delivering a unified experience remains difficult when customer data, buying signals and campaign activity are spread across disconnected systems. Partner insights from Adobe.

MARKETING

Audio Anywhere

The Telegraph’s next podcast play: video, events and paid memberships

The Telegraph is expanding its video podcast strategy into franchises spanning events and paid memberships to deepen audience relationships.

The Creator Economy

How a content marketer became an award-winning cannabis creator

A content marketer became a content creator to help grow one of the more difficult brands to scale on social: cannabis

PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM GOOGLE

Audience data is unlocking richer monetization opportunities for publishers

Because publishers sit at the source of user engagement, they hold the first-party signals that advertisers need to achieve and prove performance.

Equality and Opportunity

Target’s new beauty selection has almost no Black-owned brands

Of the 90 brands listed as part of the new beauty assortment, Modern Retail could only identify two with Black owners or founders.

PARTNER INSIGHTS FROM SPORTRADAR

Why maximizing advertising impact is so crucial for sports marketers

With today’s relevance measured in seconds and fan attention scattered across multiple platforms and devices, there is no room for delays or mistargeting.

DIGIDAY+

Member exclusive

Media Buying Briefing: Linda Boff on the power of independent agencies, and the need for financial discipline

The former CMO of GE has seen agencies of all stripes and sizes come and go. If they’re not putting the client first, they’re not doing job one.