audrey kemp

Too Much Milk, Not Enough Seats: EssenceMediacom’s Messy First Day of RTO at WTC Reports of overcrowding, employees working from waiting room chairs, and a fridge full of milk marked WPP’s first day back to the office.

#Exclusive for @adweek.bsky.social — Holdco WPP called 4,000 employees back to its NYC office. Essencemediacom showed up—only to find no desks and a fridge full of milk. 🥛
My investigation is up now:
🔗 www.adweek.com/agencies/too...

#advertising #RTO #agencydrama #essencemediacom #wpp

Publicis Media Secures LinkedIn's Global Media Account Publicis Media has won LinkedIn’s global media account, replacing Dentsu following a closed review.

#NEW in @adweek.bsky.social: Publicis Media has won LinkedIn's global media account, taking over from dentsu.

This marks a major shift for LinkedIn’s media strategy, as Publicis Media steps in to drive global media planning and buying for the platform.

🔗 www.adweek.com/agencies/pub...

Indie Shop Guesthouse Wins Every Man Jack Account, New Hire Indie shop founded by BBDO, Baldwin&, and McKinney alums has grown billings by 418% and landed seven clients in its first year

My latest for @adweek.bsky.social— Startup indie agency Guesthouse wins @everymanjack.bsky.social & names its first full-time hire. The shop grew billings 418% in year one—and it’s just getting started.
www.adweek.com/agencies/ind...

Thank you for the coverage! So honored to be joining @adweek.bsky.social ✨

Agencies & creatives: send me all the tips
📩audrey.kemp@adweek.com

How the creative agency Baldwin& is helping steer Radio Flyer into a new era Ashley Yetman, co-owner and CEO of Baldwin&, and Anne Goodman, senior manager of brand communications at Radio Flyer, discuss how the 108-year-old toy brand is evolving with an expanded product lineup...

Is nostalgia enough to keep a brand rolling? For Radio Flyer, it isn't just about wagons anymore—it’s about expanding into stroller wagons, e-bikes & a fresh brand strategy to stay top of mind for today’s families. Read how the brand is steering into the future:
www.thedrum.com/news/2025/03...

Kanye West’s antisemitic Super Bowl ad sparks calls for stronger regulatory oversight How did a low-production ad from Kanye West slip past broadcasters and media buyers – only to direct viewers to a site selling antisemitic merchandise? Experts say the incident exposes critical failur...

#SuperBowl ads typically undergo rigorous vetting processes. So how was #KanyeWest able to run a 30-second ad that appeared to be shot on iPhone, directing viewers to a website selling a $20 swastika T-shirt? My latest piece for @thedrum.bsky.social investigates: www.thedrum.com/news/2025/02...

The ads that won over creatives at Super Bowl LIX Creatives from Deutsch, adam&eveDDB and more decide who brought home the Lombardi Trophy of advertising last night – plus which brand secured the runner-up spot.

Which brand(s) won the #SuperBowl? 🏆 Creatives from
Deutsch, Code and Theory, AKQA and more pick a winner in @thedrum.bsky.social's breakdown: www.thedrum.com/news/2025/02...

Experts share what brands can learn from the American Airlines Flight 5342 tragedy In the wake of a mid-air collision that claimed 67 lives on Wednesday, crisis communications and emergency management experts discuss how brands can respond to tragedy with transparency, sensitivity a...

I spoke with crisis PR & emergency management experts about how American Airlines—and the aviation industry at large—can improve disaster response, support victims’ families, and maintain public trust in the wake of this tragedy.

www.thedrum.com/news/2025/01...

Is Elon Musk steering Tesla into a brand crisis? Tesla’s latest earnings report reveals a rare sales decline and stock dip, as CEO Elon Musk’s escalating controversies and political entanglements raise questions about the brand’s long-term consumer ...

Tesla’s latest earnings report shows a rare sales dip—coincidence, or is Elon Musk's mounting controversies finally taking a toll on the company? My latest story for The Drum investigates.
www.thedrum.com/news/2025/01...

As Meta censors abortion pill providers, will mission-driven brands leave social media? Reports of Meta hiding posts from abortion pill brands have raised concerns for mission-driven brands advertising on social media.

Meta’s recent content crackdown has mission-driven brands questioning their next move. Abortion pill providers say they’re being censored on Instagram & Facebook. What’s next for these orgs? My latest story for The Drum investigates.

www.thedrum.com/news/2025/01...

so thankful for this rain in los angeles. may it bring an end to these fires for good.

David Lynch’s hauntingly beautiful commercials Creatives reflect on the maverick filmmaker’s profound impact on advertising following his death and we look back at the surreal and boundary-pushing commercials he directed.

#DavidLynch wasn’t just a maverick filmmaker. He was a storyteller who redefined the boundaries of every medium he touched—including advertising.

The Drum's retrospective explores Lynch’s lesser-known yet groundbreaking career in TV commercials: www.thedrum.com/news/2025/01...

Could indie, social-first news outlets like Courier combat Meta’s fact-checking rollbacks? With social platforms scaling back content moderation, progressive outlet Courier Newsroom aims to cut through the noise, offering brands a safer alternative for digital advertising.

As Meta drops fact-checkers across Facebook and Instagram, can indie outlets like @couriernewsroom.bsky.social step up to fight disinformation? My latest for The Drum investigates.

www.thedrum.com/news/2024/12...

How Los Angeles’ creative agencies are aiding their communities amid historic wildfires As fires spread relentlessly across Los Angeles, ad agencies are stepping up, providing aid to their teams, adapting to disruptions and mobilizing resources to support the wider community.

As Los Angeles faces one of the worst wildfire crises in U.S. history, creative agencies are stepping up—supporting employees, adjusting workflows and mobilizing relief efforts. Read how the industry is responding in my latest for The Drum:
www.thedrum.com/news/2025/01...

Amazon workers strike in major US cities, potentially threatening holiday supply chains Labor unrest threatens delivery delays, customer dissatisfaction and ecommerce disruption this holiday season.

Amazon #Teamsters have organized a strike during the holiday rush. How will brands fare? My latest story for
The Drum investigates. #labor #strike #ecommerce

www.thedrum.com/news/2024/12...

Can the ad industry reach ambitious decarbonization goals under Trump’s second term? Donald Trump’s climate plans threaten to disrupt some industry initiatives designed to mitigate carbon emissions. But leading advertising sustainability experts make the case that the private sector s...

NEW for The Drum: Experts from Ad Net Zero, Clean Creatives & more share how Trump's second term could derail the ad industry’s net-zero goals—and why the private sector must stay the course on #climate action. #sustainability #Trump #policy
www.thedrum.com/news/2024/11...