How Molson Coors, PepsiCo operationalize rapid, relevant culture plays

Brands must be aligned with agency partners and remove barriers to execution, executives explained at Advertising Week New York.

By Chris Kelly • Oct. 7, 2025

Kraft Heinz CMO on being culturally nimble without losing brand equity

At Advertising Week, Todd Kaplan said marketers should think of brand building like pointillism and not rush to jump on every viral opportunity.

By Peter Adams • Oct. 7, 2025

How Oura keys into self-expression to reach Gen Z, millennials

The brand is betting on channels where return on investment is strongest as it launches a ceramic smart ring in different colors for the first time.

By Chris Kelly • Oct. 2, 2025

Qdoba’s new CMO on turning the fast-casual chain into a national brand

As it rapidly expands, the chain is relying on an agency roster including Leo, Influential and other Publicis shops, newly appointed CMO Jon Burke explains.

By Chris Kelly • Oct. 2, 2025

Top marketing conferences to attend in 2026

Organizers including the Association of National Advertisers and the Consumer Technology Association have already started to map out their plans.

By Jessica Hammers • Oct. 1, 2025

Shake Shack appoints first chief brand officer

The addition of a marketing executive is aligned with the fast-casual chain’s plan to increase its paid media ad spend to help boost sales.

By Julie Littman • Sept. 23, 2025

Taco Bell promotes marketing execs to take US success global

CMO Taylor Montgomery was promoted to global chief brand officer and will be succeeded by Luis Restrepo, vice president of brand and product marketing.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 22, 2025

How Lee’s new brand platform reasserts its denim authority

“Built Like Lee” celebrates the heritage of a brand founded in 1889 and is the first expression of a creative vision meant to resonate with a new generation.

By Jessica Hammers • Sept. 22, 2025

How Aldi revamped its social media strategy — and why it’s working

The fast-growing company has turned away from posts that just highlight its low prices and toward more playful, culturally relevant content, its marketing director said in an interview.

By Peyton Bigora • Sept. 18, 2025

Wawa appoints former General Mills marketer as CMO

Doug Martin served the CPG brand for nearly two decades, most recently as its chief marketer, and joins Wawa in the middle of an expansion phase.

By Jessica Loder • Sept. 17, 2025

KFC hires Wingstop marketer as CMO to fire up comeback plan

Melissa Cash takes over at the Yum chain for Catherine Tan-Gillespie, who was promoted to president in April.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 15, 2025

How JCPenney is preparing for the holidays with laugh-out-loud deals

Marketing chief Marisa Thalberg discussed how marketers can engage holiday shoppers amid economic uncertainty.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 12, 2025

American Eagle’s celebrity marketing drew outcry — and new customers

The brand defended its controversial ads with Sydney Sweeney, claiming the campaign contributed to “unprecedented” customer acquisition.

By Peter Adams • Sept. 4, 2025

Why Checkers and Rally’s are keeping the pedal to the metal on value

CMO Scott Johnson explains how the sister chains built on a brand platform created by Partners + Napier via a partnership with rapper GloRilla.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 4, 2025

How Celsius is building on brand campaign success with college football

CMO Kyle Watson explains how the energy drink is stepping up NIL efforts as part of a “Live. Fit. Go” effort that kicked off in June.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 27, 2025

Applebee’s appoints marketing, operating chiefs

Following a strong Q2, Dine Brands will bring on Michelle Chin as CMO and Jerrold Wong as COO to extend the chain’s recent successes.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 26, 2025

BetMGM’s CMO on how its brand repositioning unites gaming, entertainment

To separate from the pack, the sports-betting platform is launching a Las Vegas-inspired brand refresh with ads starring Jon Hamm.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 26, 2025

Crocs appoints 2 new CMOs to level up creative strategy: WWD

Crocs and Heydude are getting new marketing chiefs as they double down on storytelling, with the latter looking to build on a brand awareness bump.

By Peter Adams • Aug. 18, 2025

How Applebee’s sharper marketing turned around sales ahead of NFL season

The casual dining chain recently achieved positive same-store sales growth for the first time in two years, Dine Brands CEO John Peyton explains.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 18, 2025

How to win back-to-school marketing as American Eagle’s big bet blows up

Though spending forecasts are bleak, value-focused messaging and smart social media plays could help brands transcend the turbulence. 

By Jessica Hammers • Aug. 12, 2025

How Domino’s new ads hit at fast food burger chains in fight over value

New spots visualize how a slice of pizza stacks up to a similarly priced slice of a burger to boost a long-standing deal and reach value-focused consumers.

By Chris Kelly • Aug. 4, 2025

Don’t hold the pickles: Sonic’s CMO on going all-in on dining trend

CMO Ryan Dickerson discusses a Grillo’s partnership and ad shoot that involved over 2,000 real pickles as briny snacks win Gen Z’s favor.

By Peter Adams • July 17, 2025

Inside US Bank’s ad integration with Netflix’s ‘Happy Gilmore 2’

CMO Michael Lacorazza explains how teaming with the Adam Sandler sequel and production company Happy Madison helps the bank reach consumers.

By Chris Kelly • July 16, 2025

Why JanSport revived its cringeworthy back-to-school ads to reach Gen Z

The backpack maker’s TikTok-focused effort returns for a second year after an initial run led to the brand’s highest grossing sales day in history.

By Jessica Hammers • July 15, 2025

How State Farm is stepping up its gaming-focused reality series

The brand is boosting its decade-long investment in gaming by bringing new talent and improved production to the fourth season of “Gamerhood.”

By Chris Kelly • July 9, 2025