))
#17: Blending Creative and Tech at Scale, With VML's Jon Cook
Manage episode 476984757 series 3622728
Content provided by Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley, Brian Wieser, and Olivia Morley. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley, Brian Wieser, and Olivia Morley or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
Jon Cook, CEO of VML, joins co-hosts Olivia Morley and Brian Wieser to talk about the agency’s evolution and what it means to lead a business that spans both world-class creative and deep enterprise technology.
Jon walks through how VML was formed through a series of mergers — including Wunderman, J. Walter Thompson, and Y&R — and how the newly unified brand operates across creativity, commerce, customer experience and technology. He explains the structure of VML’s Enterprise Solutions group, which makes up roughly 40 percent of the company, and why the agency’s growth often hinges on integrating those capabilities with its creative engine.
The conversation also covers AI investments, DEI policy implementation across markets, and how the agency prepares for geopolitical uncertainty while staying grounded in consistent values.
Plus, Olivia, Brian and Jon discuss:
- Havas earnings and the tone of “normal” in Q1 performance
- The brand power — and business dissonance — of Stagwell’s Sport Beach
- BarkleyOKRP’s latest acquisition and how VML thinks about fine-tuning through M&A.
Subscribe to the Agency Business newsletter.
Reach Out
Agency Business features agency CEOs and financial decision-makers alongside third party experts, including agency pitch consultants. We are always accepting pitches, and are particularly interested in hearing from women and leaders of color.
Email us!
📩 Brian at [email protected]
📩 Olivia at [email protected]
Follow Madison and Wall and FusionFront Media on LinkedIn for updates.
Explore Our Other Podcasts:
📊 The Madison and Wall Podcast – Brian opens up about his latest work—plus crucial economic, financial, and industry trends.
🎬 Screen & Sponsor – Olivia & VaynerMedia media manager Jessie Holder explore how brands are shaping Hollywood.
A Note From Our Sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Ebiquity.
Picture this: complete confidence that every dollar of your media budget is working as hard as possible.
That's what Ebiquity delivers. They are the world's leading media investment analysts, helping global brands turn media complexity into competitive advantage. Through independent, data-driven analysis, they identify inefficiencies, create transparency, and unlock hidden value in your media investments.
Over 80 of the world's largest advertisers trust Ebiquity for a reason. Visit ebiquity.com today and discover how they can help your brand.
19 episodes
Share
