In this episode of MediaSnack WINNERS, Tom Denford sits down with Sorin Patilinet, PepsiCo’s Global Marketing Effectiveness Lead and author of Marketing Effectiveness: Applying Marketing Science for Brand Growth. Sorin shares his mission to elevate marketing's role in the boardroom by challenging narrow definitions of effectiveness and showing how real impact extends far beyond media ROI. Drawing on his 20-year career at Mars and now PepsiCo, he explains how brands can build stronger marketing organizations through rigorous measurement, cross-functional alignment, and analytical confidence—not just creativity.

They discuss the current state of marketing effectiveness, how AI is shaping analytics, and why understanding consumers matters more than obsessing over CPMs. Sorin also reflects on his legacy at Mars, the need for advertiser voices in industry discourse, and offers advice for future marketing leaders.

Get Sorin’s Book: Marketing Effectiveness: Applying Marketing Science for Brand Growth https://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Effectiveness-Applying-Science-Growth/dp/1398621056

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In this episode of #MediaSnack Winners, Tom Denford sits down with Terence “Terry” Kawaja, Founder & CEO of LUMA Partners, the digital media M&A advisory firm famous for the LUMAscape. With over $300 billion in deal experience, Terry shares how he built a category-defining business at the intersection of media, marketing, and technology—offering strategic advice with a blend of deep industry insight and sharp humor.

They explore the three-tier landscape of AI adoption, the return of M&A activity after a three-year trough, and what separates successful companies from the pretenders. Terry also shares why psychology matters more than finance in dealmaking, how to spot real innovation in a sea of hype, and why America’s “innovation flywheel” is its biggest comparative advantage.

#MediaSnack is presented by ID Comms, the global media consultancy helping brands achieve better media results.

Find Terry Kawaja on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terencekawaja/

Learn more about LUMA Partners: https://www.lumapartners.com/

Want to stay ahead in media? Visit https://www.idcomms.com

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Tom and David map the future of the global media agency landscape, asking a provocative question: who will survive the coming consolidation? With Omnicom poised to acquire IPG and Accenture lurking in the shadows, the industry is entering what they call a “red ocean”—an era of brutal competition, strategic mergers, and existential decisions.

In this special episode of MediaSnack, they dissect the business models of the Big Three (Omnicom, WPP, Publicis), challenge the strategic positioning of smaller players like Stagwell and Havas, and predict whether Accenture might make a bold acquisition play that reshapes the category entirely. From platform power plays to exclusive content deals with brands like NFL and Netflix, Tom and David make sharp predictions for the next 12 months—and the next five years.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• What the Omnicom–IPG deal signals about agency consolidation
• Why WPP may be undervalued—and a prime target
• How principal-based buying is reshaping agency business models
• What smaller holding companies must do to survive
• Why Accenture could emerge as a fourth force—and redefine transparency

With the sharks circling, marketers and procurement leaders need to rethink how they plan and buy media—and who they trust to do it.

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#MediaSnack is presented by ID Comms, the global media consultancy helping brands achieve better media results.

Want to stay ahead in media? Visit https://www.idcomms.com
Follow ID Comms on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/id-comms/

Cindy Rose is stepping in as WPP’s new CEO — and with the holding group’s share price at a 16-year low and recent client losses piling up, this isn’t just a leadership change — it’s an inflection point. Tom and David break down what her appointment really signals: a shift toward AI-led operational transformation — and what that means for creativity, agencies, and advertisers alike. Drawing from their inside knowledge of WPP, they explore whether Rose can leapfrog the competition or if this is simply a safe, stabilizing move for a leaking ship. In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What Cindy Rose’s hiring really says about WPP’s future
• Why “leapfrog time” means moving beyond catch-up strategy
• The legacy of Mark Read and where he fell short
• What’s at stake for agencies in a red ocean landscape
• A candid look at whether creativity will still matter in an AI-led WPP

#MediaSnack is presented by ID Comms, the global media consultancy helping brands achieve better media results. Want to stay ahead in media? Visit https://www.idcomms.com

Back from the Croisette, Tom shares his first-hand takeaways from Cannes Lions 2025 with David. While the festival had all the usual glamor and platform presence, this year’s true themes came down to three A’s: Appreciation for the power of community, a renewed focus on Agencies and their evolving role, and the real-world applications (and noise) surrounding AI. Together, they unpack what stood out, what fell flat, and what media leaders should really be paying attention to as the second half of the year kicks off.

00:00 – Setting the Stage: Why Cannes Still Matters
03:32 – Appreciation: The Role of Creativity and Craft
07:29 – Agencies: Still Central to Media’s Future
13:48 – AI: From Sizzle to Substance
18:15 – Final Reflections and What Comes Next

#MediaSnack is presented by ID Comms, the global media consultancy helping brands achieve better media results.

Related links:

The New Vibe: Cannes 2025 and the Evolving Landscape of Agency and AI https://www.idcomms.com/blog/the-new-vibe-cannes-2025-and-the-evolving-landscape-of-agency-ai

Want to stay ahead in media? Visit https://www.idcomms.com
Follow ID Comms on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/id-comms/

In this special #MediaSnack episode, Tom Denford and David Indo revisit one of their boldest predictions: the WPP 2.0 Playbook. Originally recorded when Mark Read stepped in as CEO, the episode laid out a proposed restructure of WPP’s sprawling agency network. Now, with major changes finally underway—including the retirement of the GroupM brand—Tom and David break down what they got right, where they missed, and what it all means for media leaders today. It’s a rare moment of reflection in an industry that’s always sprinting forward—plus insight into how the same themes now shape the Omnicom-IPG merger and the future of agency holding companies.

Watch the original WPP 2.0 Playbook episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSdrpMylNrE

How to Navigate Media Chaos and Come Out Ahead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXT0eLAI4KA

Why a Renegotiation Might Be Your Next Winning Move: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWR5nZkgndM

#MediaSnack is presented by ID Comms, the global media consultancy helping brands achieve better media results.

Explore more: https://www.idcomms.com
Follow ID Comms on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/id-comms/

In this episode of #MediaSnack MEETS, Tom Denford and Mark Ritson discuss:

• The state of media and advertising today—and why marketers are getting it wrong
• The power of consistency and why sticking with what works beats chasing the new
• Why too much change is killing marketing effectiveness

#MediaSnack is presented by ID Comms, the global media consultancy helping brands achieve better media results.

Mark Ritson Mini MBA: https://mba.marketingweek.com/?cmpid=...

Want to stay ahead in media? Visit https://www.idcomms.com/

Follow ID Comms on LinkedIn: / id-comms

As the Omnicom-IPG merger continues to reshape the media landscape, Tom Denford and David Indo return with critical insights for advertisers. In this episode of #MediaSnack, they explore how the traditional agency model is shifting from service to sales, and why advertisers need to rethink their media strategies now. They break down how to update contracts, renegotiate for better value, and protect agency relationships in a post-merger world. In the How to Win segment, they reveal how even big brands are losing competitive advantage by relying on outdated media auditing and platform-driven results, and what smart marketers must do to take control, boost outcomes, and future-proof their investments.

00:14 – How Not to Lose

Why media agencies are moving from service to sales
What advertisers must renegotiate in 2025 contracts
How to protect your brand’s talent and agency relationships

10:05 – How to Win

Why big spenders are seeing small results
The three hidden risks hurting media performance
How smarter audit strategies can drive real business growth

#MediaSnack is presented by ID Comms, the global media consultancy helping brands achieve better media results.

Learn more about navigating the Omnicom-IPG Merger: https://www.idcomms.com/omnicom
Explore Digital Control and Modern Media Auditing: https://www.idcomms.com/digital-control
Winning the Digital Pitch: https://www.idcomms.com/blog/winning-...

Want to stay ahead in media? Visit https://www.idcomms.com/