Agency Business

Welcome to Agency Business.

This week Jeff Rogers, CEO and managing partner/founder of Salt XC joins the podcast.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

This week Gush Mundae, founder of independent brand agency Bulletproof, joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley to discuss how he has scaled the 400-person, eight-studio business without outside funding — and why he believes agencies should focus on staying relevant rather than pursuing growth for its own sake.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

This week Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley break down the latest agency business news, including leadership changes at WPP and Omnicom, Stagwell’s investment in RealClear Holdings and Accenture’s growing ambitions in media.

They also discuss what these developments say about the changing economics of the agency business, from new sources of media revenue to private equity’s evolving interest in independent agencies.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

David Dweck, president of Go Fish Digital, joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley to discuss how the agency is adapting its business model to AI, pricing pressure and private equity ownership.

David shares how Go Fish is using AI to improve efficiency and output without positioning itself as a software company, why the agency maintains a pricing floor rather than competing solely on cost, and how it is moving beyond traditional FTE-based commercial models.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

This week, Peter Finn CEO and founding managing partner of Finn Partners, joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley on the podcast.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

Lola USA was formed by bringing together 180 US and adam&eveDDB in the U.S. as part of Omnicom’s broader agency consolidation. This week, Agathe Guerrier CEO of Lola USA, joins Olivia Morley to discuss establishing the Lola brand in the U.S.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

Leeann Leahy, CEO of The VIA Agency, joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley to discuss how the agency’s ESOP structure is shaping its culture, recruiting, investment strategy and approach to growth.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

David Angelo, founder and creative chairman of David & Goliath, joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley to discuss how the agency's challenger philosophy has shaped its growth, client relationships and culture over more than 25 years.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

Matthew Naffah, CEO of RareOne joins Olivia Morley to discuss the newly-formed agency platform’s approach to scaling independent agencies without eliminating their individual brands, leadership or specialized expertise.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

Reach Out:

Welcome to Agency Business.

Katy Hornaday, CEO of independent, private-equity backed agency, BarkleyOKRP, joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley to discuss her path from creative leader to CEO, how the agency is using its PE backing to build and buy capabilities, and what it takes to make integration across creative, strategy, media and AI-enabled tools work inside the business.

For more on the media side of BarkleyOKRP’s model, revisit Episode 22, with MissionOne Media president Sean Corcoran.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

Shannon Langrand, founder and CEO of Houston-based independent agency Langrand, joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley to discuss how starting an agency without first working inside one shaped the firm’s model, and why that outsider perspective helped her build around the “job to be done” for clients rather than the inherited structures of the agency business.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

Mark Penn, chairman and CEO of Stagwell, join Brian Wieser live last week at Cannes to discuss why he sees marketing services as more resilient than many technology businesses, how Stagwell is investing in AI, software and digital transformation, and why he believes agencies are undergoing transformation rather than decline. Mark also talked about Stagwell’s global expansion, capital allocation, investor perceptions of the agency sector and the company’s push to combine services and technology.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

PJ Pereira and Rob Wrubel, co-founders of SILVERSIDE, join Olivia Morley this week to discuss what it means to build an AI-native marketing innovation lab outside the traditional agency model.

PJ and Rob discuss how SILVERSIDE grew out of an experimental AI group inside Pereira O’Dell, and why they believed the technology required a separate structure built for speed, experimentation and new ways of working. They explain how early work with Coca-Cola helped shape SILVERSIDE’s approach to creative production, personalization and client collaboration, and why the company often enters orga...

Welcome to Agency Business.

Kwame Taylor-Hayford, co-founder of Kin, joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley this week to discuss what it means to build an independent agency around specificity rather than scale.

Kwame discusses how his global upbringing shaped his approach to advertising and design, and how Kin’s work sits at the intersection of innovation, culture and community. He explains why the agency is focused on helping brands become meaningful participants in communities — whether those communities are defined by demographics, interests or geography — through original ideas and intellectual property that can take many different forms...

Welcome to Agency Business.

Joe Gagliese, co-founder and co-CEO of Viral Nation, joins Brian Wieser this week to discuss how the company grew from representing creators into a social-first business working with enterprise brands.

Joe discussed Viral Nation’s early days in influencer marketing, why the company raised capital to build AI, data infrastructure and measurement tools, and how it is trying to make social operate more like a mature marketing channel. He also talked about creator pricing, global social strategy, working alongside holding companies and why Viral Nation remains focused on services as it bu...

Welcome to Agency Business.

Dimi Albers, CEO of DEPT, joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley this week to discuss how the marketing and technology company has scaled globally while operating as one agency.

Dimi discussed DEPT’s expansion across Europe, the Americas and APAC, why the company sees cultural alignment as central to successful acquisitions, and how its independent structure shapes its competition with holding companies, consultancies and systems integrators. He also discussed DEPT’s technology platform, its private equity backing and why the company remains focused on managed services rather than a pure SaaS mode...

Welcome to Agency Business.

Blake Heal, founder and CEO of Conscious Minds, joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley this week to discuss how the agency built production into its model from the beginning.

Blake shares how Conscious Minds evolved from the viral video era into a social and culture-focused agency working with large brands including Nike, Starbucks, Yahoo and Google.

He also describes:

...

Welcome to Agency Business.

Alison Weissbrot, executive editor at Adweek, joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley to discuss the agency business from her vantage point covering the industry.

Alison talks about the pressure holding company CEOs face around growth and AI transformation, why independent agencies continue to generate industry attention, and how private equity is shaping parts of the indie agency market.

She also discusses what makes agency AI claims credible, where agencies are investing beyond AI, and why Cannes Lions remains central to the industry even as its role continues to evolve.<...

Welcome to Agency Business.

Maggie Malek, CEO of Crispin, joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley to discuss the Stagwell agency’s next chapter. She discusses the agency's history, and the 2023 combination of MMI, Crispin (then CPB), and Observatory.

Maggie also discusses how Crispin is building around creative, media and social under one P&L, and how Crispin is balancing its creative roots with client demand for integrated media, social, and creator capabilities.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

Tamara Alesi, CEO of Mediaplus North America, joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley to discuss how the Serviceplan-owned media agency is building its presence in the U.S. and Canada. Tamara explains how Mediaplus is approaching growth in North America, including its reliance on global client relationships, local market development, and a measured, profitability-focused expansion strategy.

She also outlines the agency’s “house of communication” model, integrating media, creative, and technology, and shares her perspective on talent, AI, and the trade-offs between independent and holding company structures as agencies navigate industry-wide change...

Welcome to Agency Business.

Remy Stiles, global CEO of Kepler, joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley to discuss the agency’s evolution from its programmatic roots into a full-service, data-driven business. Founded out of MediaMath, Kepler was built around audience-first, technology-led thinking at a time when those approaches were still emerging, and has since expanded into creative, global operations and new business growth.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

Michael Magnusson, founder and CEO of Pinnacle Advertising, joins Brian Wieser and Olivia Morley to discuss what it means to run an agency built on retail performance and measurable outcomes.

Michael explains how that focus shapes team structure, client relationships, and day-to-day decision-making, as well as how the agency operates in a market defined by consolidation and evolving client demands.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

Scott Shamberg, president and CEO of independent media agency Mile Marker, joins Brian to discuss the growing opportunity for independent agencies serving mid-market and private equity-backed brands. 

Shamberg explains how Mile Marker is positioning itself between small media boutiques and holding companies, why its clients prioritize flexible, “human in the loop” service models, and how the agency is using automation and AI to enhance — not replace — talent. 

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

This week, Olivia and Brian interview Boston Consulting Group's Janet Balis. We discuss how AI is reshaping the agency business beyond efficiency gains. Janet argues that many agencies and clients are underestimating AI’s impact by treating it as a cost-saving tool rather than an opportunity to rethink operating models, partnerships, and growth strategies.

We explore how agencies should adapt to evolving client expectations, where work should sit between agencies and in-house teams, and why success increasingly depends on designing more flexible, account-specific models that better align creative, media, and technology capabilities.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast netw...

Welcome to Agency Business.

This week, Madison and Wall’s Tucker Lake joins Olivia and Brian to discuss new research examining how the largest agency groups are approaching AI. Based on M&W's interviews with senior leaders across holding companies, one theme stood out: while AI has become a central focus, agency offerings today are far more similar than they are different.

The Agency Business podcast is part of the Marketecture Media podcast network.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

This week, Brian and Olivia interview Andrea Bendzick, CEO of independent digital agency, Wpromote. The group discusses Wpromote's recent acquisition of Giant Spoon and what it signals for the future of advertising agencies, including the convergence of creative and performance marketing.

Drawing on her background in finance and technology, Bendzick explains why the traditional divide between brand and performance no longer reflects client needs, how Wpromote is integrating creative, media, and data through its PolarisIQ platform, and why the company is building a tech-enabled services model to drive measurable outcomes.

Welcome to Agency Business.

Rick Milenthal, chairman and CEO of independent agency, The Shipyard, joined Brian and Olivia for a conversation about building and sustaining a full-service independent agency — with major operations in Columbus, Ohio and San Diego — around the philosophy of "engineering brand love" through the integration of paid, earned, and owned media.

Rick shares how The Shipyard has grown to ~450 people by bringing together best-in-class talent across creative, media, PR, and experiential disciplines rather than treating them as separate businesses. He discusses the agency's sweet spot serving mid-market clients spending $50–$100 million, why he sees a...

Welcome to Agency Business.

This week Dan Khabie, cofounder of CourtAvenue, joined Olivia for a conversation about building an independent digital and AI transformation agency — from a garage startup in San Diego to a 250-person company growing at 64% year-over-year.

Daniel discusses CourtAvenue's five pillar go-to-market strategy — spanning digital ecosystems, retail media, physical-digital experiences, and AI consulting — and how AI has become the central accelerant across all of it. He also shares his "fresh water" philosophy for working alongside in-house teams, reflects on lessons learned inside WPP and J. Walter Thompson, and offers his take on holdin...

Welcome to Agency Business.

Brian and Olivia interviewed Beth Ann Kaminkow, CEO of the Americas and global chief client officer at Dentsu, following a significant leadership transition and renewed scrutiny of the company’s international business. The conversation comes as Dentsu posted weak financial results, announced Takeshi Sano as its new global CEO and president, and signaled that a previously explored sale of its international operations is no longer under consideration.

Beth Ann discusses Dentsu’s strategy to prioritize Japan and the U.S. as growth engines, strengthen its power brands including Merkle, and position the...

Welcome to Agency Business.

John Elder, CEO and co-founder of independent creative agency Supergood, joined Brian and Olivia to discuss how data — not AI alone — may become the real differentiator for agencies navigating margin pressure and rising client expectations.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

Patti McConnell, co-founder and managing partner, and Tommy Henvey, co-founder and chief creative officer of independent creative agency Something Different, joined Brian and Olivia for a conversation about building an agency designed for closeness, flexibility, and creative fulfillment rather than scale.

Patti and Tommy discuss the studio model that allows Something Different to expand and contract around client needs, how trust and chemistry still decide pitches once you’re in the room, and why disciplined scoping and margin protection still matter even when agencies take on passion projects or long-term bets.

Welcome to Agency Business.

Judith Carr-Rodriguez, CEO and partner at independent full-service creative agency, FIG, joined Brian and Olivia this week on the podcast.

Judith shared how clients increasingly value small, senior teams over large pyramidal organizations, how FIG has grown by focusing on long-term AOR relationships rather than project-based work, and why the agency has become more selective as demand increases.

Judith also shares how Fig thinks about controlled growth, client fit and longevity, arguing that focus — not scale for scale’s sake — has become one of the most important disciplines for indepe...

Welcome to Agency Business.

Andrew Cohen, CEO of independent St. Louis creative agency Moosylvania, joined Brian and Olivia for a candid conversation about building an agency around senior talent, continuity, and long-term thinking.

Andrew shares the origin story of Moosylvania, founded by his father after leaving an IPG-owned agency, and reflects on taking over leadership during the pandemic as the firm evolved into a more digital, hybrid operation.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

Brian and Olivia interview Dean Broadhead, founder of independent agency, Broadhead about how agencies should rethink production, talent, and investment as AI reshapes how work gets done.

Drawing on his “stop making shoes” framework, Dean explains why agencies should focus less on long-tail production and more on strategy, creativity, and risk mitigation, using AI to create space for higher-value work rather than replace it. The conversation also explores culturally led AI adoption, proprietary platforms built around subscription models, capital allocation decisions — including exiting an ESOP — and why independents may be better position...

Welcome to Agency Business.

Brian interviews Ammunition CEO Jeremy Heilpern to examine how agencies can defend pricing and articulate value as AI reshapes workflows, timelines and client expectations.

Drawing on Ammunition’s growth from a category-focused shop into an independent agency with a broad client roster, Jeremy explains why specialization, internal production and deliberate investment decisions have been central to maintaining margins and client retention.

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Welcome to Agency Business.

Brian and Olivia discuss 2026 agency trends with media and tech analyst Ian Whittaker. Drawing on his background in financial markets and consulting, Ian frames 2026 as a crossroads year for agencies, one defined less by immediate disruption than by a series of strategic choices that will determine longer-term positioning.

The conversation explores whether agencies can move up the value chain by better articulating the financial value of creativity, how AI has intensified pressure from tech platforms, and why independent agencies may be better positioned to defend pricing and confidence than holding companies...

Welcome to Agency Business.

Mollie Rosen, president of member experience at the 4As, joins Olivia and Brian this week to unpack the 4As' 2026 Look Ahead report and what it signals about the future of agencies.

Agencies face two divergent but overlapping paths, according to Mollie. They can 1. Become platform- and technology-led or 2. Double down on creativity and strategic partnership. We explore how AI is accelerating this tension, why most agencies are likely to land somewhere along a continuum between the two extremes, and how longstanding issues around compensation models, talent strategy and investment risk could...

This week Brian talks with Amanda Forgione, CEO of Morrison. We talk about many of the very human elements of running an independent agency with family roots in the industry, and contrast some of her agency's choices with those of the holding companies.

The episode also features a brief mention of Olivia's new subscription PR model offering agencies a weekly hour of senior strategic thinking. For details, email [email protected].

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Welcome to Agency Business.

This week, Olivia and Brian talk with Steve and Robin Boehler of Mercer Island Group as the industry absorbs one of the most disruptive weeks in recent holding company history. The Bowlers break down Omnicom’s restructuring, including the abrupt shuttering of several legacy creative agencies, and explain why decades of diluted positioning left many large networks vulnerable. They also outline why consolidation is sharpening client anxiety, how brand clarity deteriorated across holding companies, and what marketers really look for when evaluating agency partners in periods of instability.

Steve and Robin di...