Month: January 2022

This morning, Microsoft announced it’s acquiring gaming giant Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. The deal is aimed at boosting two major aspects of the tech giant’s business: growing subscriptions to build greater dominance for its Xbox gaming system and being viewed as a serious player in the development of the metaverse. The purchase of the…

IPG Mediabrands has elevated Lynn Lewis to the position of Global CMO; at the same time, its subsidiary, Universal McCann (UM) has named W. Joe DeMiero as Lewis’ successor in her previous role as UM’s U.S. CEO. Both appointments are effective today. DeMiero reports to UM Global CEO Eileen Kiernan and will focus on driving…

Motor sport Formula 1’s marketing chief Ellie Norman is leaving the organization after four-and-a-half years. Norman joined the organization following the acquisition of the sport by Liberty Media in 2017 from Virgin Media. Norman started as the sports director of marketing before being promoted the following year to director of marketing communications. She will leave…

Telecommunications company Movistar has appointed Wunderman Thompson (WT) Spain as its strategic and creative agency and Accenture Interactive as its digital marketing agency as the client overhauls its agency roster in advance of forthcoming strategic plans. The Telefonica-owned business operates across Spain and Spanish-speaking parts of America providing television, internet, alarms, mobile devices and entertainment…

Messenger Kids is Meta’s messaging application for children. It doesn’t require kids to have Facebook accounts, and it allows parents to control who their kids can talk to. Before a child can use Messenger Kids, a parent or guardian will need to create an account for them within the Messenger Kids app. Our guide will…

DeMiero, a long-time Publicis executive, most recently was CEO of its Hawkeye unit.

The series, as well as a new report, discuss how the next new iteration of virtual media might impact brands and media.

In a significant step, the Senate Judiciary Committee will formally debate the Open App Markets Act — which, if passed, would be a game-changer in the apps marketplace.

Microsoft will have 30 internal game development studios as well as additional publishing and esports production capabilities when the deal closes. The transaction would make Microsoft the world’s
third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind China’s Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Japan’s Sony Group, Microsoft says.

Separately, Babs Rangaiah has joined the San Francisco-based firm as senior partner and head of marketing transformation.