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L’Oréal Brands Maybelline New York, Essie To Share VML as US Social Agency

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Maybelline New York and Essie, each owned by L’Oréal, are bringing in a single company to run social for the primary time.

VML has been named lead U.S. social company for the manufacturers following a aggressive assessment, the company instructed ADWEEK, with a remit spanning social technique, content material manufacturing, and neighborhood administration. The scope doesn’t embody influencer advertising and marketing.

The pitch started in November 2025, consolidating what had been a patchwork of inside groups, in line with VML.

The transfer displays a broader reckoning in magnificence, the place discovery and buy are more and more taking place on TikTookay and Instagram, making social a key commerce channel. For manufacturers like Maybelline and Essie, within the make-up and nail polish sectors, respectively, that shift calls for a extra built-in strategy to content material.

“It wasn’t just content creation,” Leo Madden, world consumer associate at VML, instructed ADWEEK. “It was strategy, production, real-time community management, listening, performance measurement—all working together as an engine.”

The assessment, which ran via early 2026, was managed internally by the model reasonably than via a search consultancy. Madden mentioned he didn’t have visibility into what number of businesses competed.

Maybelline spent roughly $60 million on media in 2025 and Essie spent round $10 million, in line with COMvergence estimates.

While the 2 manufacturers will share a social workforce, their voices will keep distinct, Madden mentioned. Work is already underway, with content material dwell since January and VML groups actively offering neighborhood administration, although the company declined to share particular examples.

The win comes as VML is pulled into a brand new group referred to as WPP Creative as a part of CEO Cindy Rose’s $676 million value chopping plan. Longtime VML world CEO Jon Cook was promoted to steer the division as CEO.

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How News Networks Covered the Military Action in Iran

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The U.S and Israel launched joint coordinated strikes on Iran early Saturday morning, apparently in an effort to maintain the nation from acquiring nuclear weapons.

The strikes led to the demise of Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s supreme chief, who led the nation for almost 4 a long time. Iran retaliated with its personal strikes, hitting U.S.navy bases within the area, which killed 4 U.S. service members. The strikes additionally focused different densely populated areas in varied Middle Eastern international locations.

The speedy escalation of occasions compelled the varied news retailers into breaking-news mode, which felt eerily comparable in timing to when news of the Venezuelan navy strikes broke in early January.  

Here’s a breakdown of how every community coated the preliminary assaults and the way their protection developed all through the weekend.

(All occasions Eastern.)

ABC News

ABC News had particular experiences on ABC and ABC News Live at 2:02 a.m., 2:40 a.m., and three:09 a.m., anchored by Michelle Franzen. At 5:08 a.m., Whit Johnson joined as anchor.

David Muir aired a particular version of World News Tonight on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. On Sunday evening, Muir anchored a primetime particular at 9 p.m. titled, Shockwaves: The Attack on Iran.

CBS News

The community broke in with a particular report at 2:28 a.m., anchored by Carissa Lawson. Anchor Tony Dokoupil anchored a particular version of CBS Evening News at 6:30 p.m. and a one-hour primetime particular, War with Iran, on Saturday evening at 10 p.m. 

CNN

CNN was the primary community to report the navy strikes in Iran, with Elex Michaelson anchoring at 1:31 a.m. The community’s rolling protection has been dealt with by Dana Bash, Victor Blackwell, Wolf Blitzer, Pamela Brown, Kaitlan Collins, Jessica Dean, Abby Phillip, Jim Sciutto, Sara Sidner, Jake Tapper, Fredricka Whitfield, and Fareed Zakaria. Primetime anchor Erin Burnett has been anchoring reside out of Tel Aviv since Sunday afternoon.  

Paramount Scores a Top Sports Ads Exec From Amazon Ahead of Upfront

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Paramount adverts chief Jay Askinasi is making strikes.

Today, Askinasi, in an inner memo obtained by ADWEEK, introduced that Paramount is hiring Danielle Carney, Amazon Ads’ former head of reside sports activities and video gross sales, as its new head of U.S. advert gross sales. The firm can also be bringing on Chris Brady, former Tribeca Enterprises president and international chief business officer, as evp of Paramount Media Labs, a task designed to assist develop model integrations and partnerships.

The strikes are efficient March 9, with each execs reporting to Askinasi.

An Amazon Ads spokesperson confirmed Carney’s departure, saying, “We appreciate her contributions to the Amazon Ads organization and wish her well in her future endeavors.”

Carney has greater than 15 years within the advert trade and has been at Amazon for greater than 4 years, being integral to Amazon and Prime Video’s sports activities technique, together with its efforts round Thursday Night Football, the corporate’s NBA and WNBA choices, and Prime Video’s strategy to a multi-sport upfront providing.

In his memo, Askinasi stated that Carney’s experience throughout leisure, sports activities, and expertise is “invaluable” for Paramount.

“She will play a critical role in connecting our most valuable assets with brand marketers and agency partners, helping deliver a seamless, client-first experience across the Paramount ecosystem,” Askinasi stated.

The hires are amongst Askinasi’s first massive strikes as Paramount’s CRO after leaving Roku late final yr. Askinasi famous that the bulletins come as Paramount preps for the upfront and evolves its workforce construction and go-to-market technique.

“This is a pivotal moment for our business—and an opportunity to build something truly differentiated together,” Askinasi stated within the memo.

The news comes as Paramount is about to have much more stock on its arms.

Paramount is within the midst of buying Warner Bros. Discovery after beating out Netflix with a brand new bid of $31 per share, prompting the streamer to drop out of WBD negotiations. Ad consultants advised ADWEEK that if the deal goes by means of, it may rewrite the TV promoting panorama, bringing extra scale and negotiating energy to the upfront.

The McDonald’s CEO Can’t Seem to Stomach His Own Burger

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It began so properly. Last month, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski posted a video of his first probability to strive the corporate’s new flagship burger, the Big Arch, which debuts throughout the U.S. on March 3.

It lined up as the proper advertising second. The boss, entrance and heart, celebrating his new creation. And he was effusive as he opened the field. It was “so good.” It was “unique.” “So much going on”. 

Kempczinski is a P&G grad. This was the textbook windup from the Big Boss.

Then he took the chunk.

The chunk itself—like a person defusing one thing—was not a chunk in any respect. It was a clip of the periphery, whereas he disconcertingly talked about it because the “product.” Then “this thing.” 

What occurred subsequent, or quite what didn’t, sealed the video’s destiny. It ends with 2.3% of the burger consumed and Kempczinski wafting the remainder of his Big Arch round like a flag of give up. He guarantees to get pleasure from it off-camera.

The video has been picked aside throughout social, and musician Garron Noone delivered the road that can comply with Kempczinski to his grave: “This man does not eat McDonald’s.”

Kempczinski is, by all accounts, a wonderful CEO. 

Harvard MBA, Duke undergrad, 25 years in blue-chip client firms. He claims to eat at McDonald’s a number of occasions per week. 

McDonald’s has carried out strongly on his watch. He is aware of the P&L, the franchisee economics, the provision chain, the digital technique. 

What he additionally is aware of, and what the video made apparent to a number of million folks concurrently, is that the Big Arch accommodates sufficient energy to energy a small Zamboni.

This is the central pressure of the trendy CEO. The greater you rise, the additional you get from the factor you promote. You earn $20 million a yr, for promoting a combo meal that prices 9 bucks.  

The contradiction is as gigantic as it’s intractable. You grow to be a supervisor of managers, a grasp of the universe, a particular customer to conquered overseas lands. You know your product intimately as an idea—its market share, model fairness, internet promoter rating—however you cease understanding it as a factor you shove in your mouth on Tuesday once you’re shitfaced. 

EXCLUSIVE: A New Pitch Deck Reveals X Is Using Grok to Sell Brand Safety

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In a brand new 44-slide pitch deck, obtained solely by ADWEEK, X is as soon as once more pitching itself as a extremely secure atmosphere for advertisers. The slides promote varied instruments for transparency, marketing campaign measurement, and model security that debuted between 2022 and 2025. X offered the deck to brand- and agency-side advertisers final week, in keeping with a supply aware of the matter. 

These embrace key phrase controls, blocklists, in addition to partnerships with main media high quality companies DoubleVerify, Integral Ad Science (IAS), and Trustworthy Accountability Group. 

Notably, the deck positions Grok—the AI chatbot operated by X’s guardian firm xAI and built-in natively into X—as a cornerstone of the app’s model security and suitability mission. One slide claims Grok gives “enhanced contextual understanding of posts”; the power to “identify sensitive topics based off of cultural trends on X”; and “superior text recognition across content formats including images with oddly-sized or distorted text.” 

But all through the previous 12 months, Grok has not solely failed to make sure model security however in some cases disseminated the very content material that manufacturers deem most unsafe. In January, customers prompted Grok en masse to flood X with sexually express nonconsensual deepfake photos of actual customers. Around 6,700 such photos appeared hourly throughout one 24-hour observational interval, tallied by deepfake researcher Genevieve Oh. Now, that incident is the topic of varied regulatory investigations throughout the globe. Six months earlier, Grok had spewed violent and antisemitic content material on the social platform, producing rape fantasies and calling itself ‘MechaHitler.’ 

The firm says within the doc that it’s “deeply committed to safety for all.” 

In the brand new pitch deck, X claims Grok “exceeds industry benchmarks” for model security, with an “average brand safety score” above 99.99% in keeping with IAS and DoubleVerify, although particulars about these methodologies weren’t shared. In 2024, DoubleVerify publicly mentioned that X’s model security charge is 99.99%—a determine that referred to not the share of content material that’s brand-safe on X, however to the speed of effectiveness of X’s proprietary model security techniques on the time. However, the speed was by no means offered as a illustration of Grok’s capabilities.

“This webinar session and deck were part of our ongoing proactive communication with clients. Transparency and control are the core tenants,” mentioned a spokesperson for X.

DoubleVerify declined to remark. IAS declined to share specifics about its methodology however directed readers to be taught extra about its work with X in a weblog publish on its web site. That publish consists of no point out of Grok.

The deck spotlights varied different merchandise and instruments designed to provide advertisers higher management over their placements and to guarantee them that content material on X is being successfully moderated.

Anthropic Is Cashing In on OpenAI’s Pentagon Deal

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Anthropic is taking advantage of its fallout with the U.S. Department of Defense—and the following inflow of curiosity in its reply engine Claude, selling its reminiscence import characteristic, which lets customers port over their chat historical past from different AI chatbots.

The reminiscence software was initially debuted in October of final 12 months, however the firm is selling it anew after integrating reminiscence import interface instruments straight into Claude’s settings and publishing a devoted touchdown web page over the weekend. The devoted touchdown web page consists of demo movies and clear directions for a way customers can “switch to Claude without starting over.”

The reminiscence import characteristic was beforehand accessible to paid subscribers solely, however beginning at present is out there to all customers without spending a dime.

The timing of the promotion is opportunistic. Last week, Claude shot to the highest of app retailer scores, hitting #1 within the free app class within the U.S. on iOS after Anthropic refused to budge within the Pentagon’s strain marketing campaign towards the corporate. The firm’s CEO Dario Amodei mentioned Anthropic wouldn’t permit its tech for use for mass surveillance of American residents or to develop autonomous weaponry, rejecting an ultimatum levied towards the lab by DoD Secretary Pete Hegseth. In response, President Trump barred using Anthropic merchandise by the U.S. authorities. On the identical day, rival OpenAI swooped in and secured a contract with the DoD. 

Though OpenAI claimed in a press release that its deal phrases embrace “more guardrails than any previous agreement for classified AI deployments, including Anthropic’s,” the choice led to quick and widespread backlash. Consumers took to social media to bash the corporate, suggesting it had folded to the Trump administration’s aggressive calls for. Now, a ‘Cancel ChatGPT’ pattern has spurred some 1.5 million customers to signal a boycott pledge on one activist website.

The outrage directed towards OpenAI has seemingly led to a spike in Claude utilization. Anthropic has seen free energetic customers surge 60% and each day signups quadruple because the begin of the 12 months. Paid subscribers have additionally greater than doubled this 12 months, based on the corporate. 

Social engagements are solely fanning the flames. A publish on X from pop star Katy Perry final week that included a screenshot of Claude’s subscription signup web page with a superimposed coronary heart form attracted 51,000 likes and over 5,500 reposts. 

Of course Anthropic hasn’t absolutely escaped scrutiny. X creator Jules Zucker, for instance, who has 159,000 followers, referred to as out Anthropic’s work with protection tech firm Palantir, suggesting that each it and OpenAI are probably complicit in acts of conflict. 

Telemundo Kicks World Cup Marketing Into High Gear: Sweeping Coverage, New Campaign

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With about 100 days till the World Cup, Telemundo is making its pitch to viewers.

Today, Telemundo, the unique Spanish-language dwelling of the event within the U.S., revealed particulars of its intensive protection plans for the upcoming World Cup happening within the United States, Mexico, and Canada, together with the launch of a brand new advertising and marketing marketing campaign aimed toward bringing followers collectively.

Speaking with ADWEEK, Joaquin Duro, evp of sports activities and head of streaming, Telemundo, stated there can be greater than 700 hours of programming, together with a dwell presence in any respect 104 matches, devoted day by day exhibits, and an intensive digital footprint. In addition, each match will stream dwell on Peacock and the Telemundo app.

Duro famous that Telemundo was aiming to be bold with its protection plans, which had been greater than two years within the making, with the community bringing dwell programming from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. day by day to indicate matches and supply further shoulder programming.

“Every single product or every single type of content, from podcasts to free channels to DTC to shows to documentaries to news, entertainment, sports,” Duro stated. “We’re covering everything from a multi-platform and multi-format approach.”

Kicking off a brand new marketing campaign

To additional attain followers, Telemundo is celebrating the discharge of its official World Cup track, “Somos Más,” and a brand new part of its advertising and marketing marketing campaign, “Y Tú, ¿Con Quién Lo Vas a Ver?” (“Who Will You Watch It With?”).

ADWEEK has the unique first take a look at the marketing campaign’s 60-second advert right here:

Unlike Telemundo’s latest Super Bowl spot, which centered on reaching normal audiences with the assistance of Sofia Vergara and Owen Wilson, Duro stated the newest marketing campaign focuses extra on Telemundo’s core Spanish-speaking viewers.

The new marketing campaign, which showcases a person going to nice lengths to trace down his buddy, is Telemundo’s method of inviting viewers to look at the World Cup collectively.

“Hopefully, we can unite all of us,” Duro stated. “Regardless of nationality or the color of your skin, we can think of, who are you going to watch it with? Who are you going to enjoy this with? Because nobody enjoys the World Cup alone.”

And Telemundo is bringing loads of programming to maintain viewers occupied.

The programming recreation plan

Among Telemundo’s broadcasts, the corporate will showcase a day by day kickoff present, Hoy en el Mundial, which can preview the motion. Other exhibits embody Vive el Mundial, which can join viewers with on-site expertise, and Pasión Mundial, which serves as a bridge throughout the day’s schedule.

Yusen Logistics Enhances Chicago Warehouse Operations with Tokyo Electron Device’s HAKO-FLO – Japan Industry News

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Tokyo Electron Device Ltd. has introduced that its U.S. subsidiary, Tokyo Electron Device America, Inc., efficiently applied its warehouse digital transformation resolution, HAKO-FLO, at Yusen Logistics (Americas) Inc.’s Chicago warehouse. This strategic deployment goals to deal with operational inefficiencies within the logistics sector pushed by rising e-commerce volumes and labor shortages.

Yusen Logistics adopted HAKO-FLO to sort out points resembling misshipments on account of labeling errors, variable picture high quality throughout inbound inspections, and delays from paper-based reporting techniques. The know-how leverages RFID and mobile-based picture capturing to reinforce accuracy and effectivity in warehouse operations.

Key options of the HAKO-FLO resolution embrace RFID Query, EZ-report, and EZ-Snap Air. RFID Query permits for fast and exact cargo verification, decreasing operational errors. EZ-report standardizes harm inspection reporting through tablets, whereas EZ-Snap Air facilitates seamless photograph seize and reporting via smartphones, collectively expediting on-site documentation processes.

Following its introduction in July 2023, HAKO-FLO Cloud has improved collaboration throughout Yusen Logistics’ operational groups by centralizing knowledge administration. This platform permits real-time sharing of scan knowledge and pictures, enhancing visibility and coordination between subject workers and administration at a number of areas.

Looking forward, Tokyo Electron Device America goals to increase HAKO-FLO’s capabilities and broaden into new sectors, striving to offer revolutionary options that bolster operational resilience and aggressive benefit for its purchasers. This initiative is a part of their dedication to fostering digital transformation rooted in sensible, field-based purposes.

Yosuke Shibata, Quality Assurance Director at Yusen Logistics, praised the deployment, stating, “Leveraging RFID and photographic documentation has significantly reduced the risk of errors and oversights. The quality of inspection processes has improved, and response time to customer needs has shortened.” Shibata emphasised the improved velocity and accuracy in decision-making facilitated by real-time entry to stories via HAKO-FLO Cloud.

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Stealth black docking stations for the Getac F120 and V120 now delivery from Gamber-Johnson

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PRESS RELEASE

STEVENS POINT, Wis. — Gamber-Johnson, a world chief in rugged mounting and docking options, in the present day introduced that its Stealth Black Docking Stations for the GETAC F120 TABLET and GETAC V120 LAPTOP are actually delivery.

Engineered for mission-ready efficiency, the brand new docking stations mix Gamber-Johnson’s trusted sturdiness with a refined, trendy design constructed for demanding environments. Developed with suggestions from the sector, the Stealth Black end blends seamlessly into tactical {and professional} interiors whereas sustaining the rugged reliability clients count on.

The docking stations ship safe mounting, reliable connectivity, and long-term sturdiness throughout public security, area service, utilities, army, and enterprise purposes.

Key Features Include:

  • Full or Lite Port Replication Options – Available with or with out HDMI to help numerous workspace wants
  • Quad RF Pass-Through – Enhanced antenna efficiency and sign reliability
  • Built-In Stylus Holders – Secure storage for important instruments
  • AutoDocking Technology (V120) – Seamless, one-handed docking for quick deployment
  • Patented Slam Latch (F120) – Secure, dependable pill docking

“These docks reflect our commitment to evolving alongside our customers’ technology,” stated Sarah Long, Cradles & Docks product marketer. “By combining rugged engineering with refined design, we’re delivering solutions that perform reliably in real-world conditions.”

With each fashions now out there, organizations can confidently deploy the most recent Getac gadgets whereas sustaining the sturdiness, integration, and efficiency anticipated from Gamber-Johnson options.

For extra details about the Getac F120 and V120 docking stations, go to gamberjohnson.com or contact gross sales@gamberjohnson.com.

About Gamber-Johnson

Gamber-Johnson is a number one producer of rugged mounting programs and docking options that help expertise in movement. From public security and utilities to warehousing, transportation, and area service, Gamber-Johnson merchandise are trusted worldwide for being Rugged. Reliable. Responsive. Learn extra at gamberjohnson.com.

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Dorsey says AI permits smaller crew at Block

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BANGKOK, Thailand: Financial know-how agency Block is chopping greater than 4,000 jobs, roughly 40 p.c of its workforce, because it restructures round synthetic intelligence, a transfer that despatched its shares sharply greater in premarket buying and selling on February 27.

CEO Jack Dorsey stated the choice displays how AI instruments are reworking how firms function.

“The core thesis is simple. Intelligence tools have changed what it means to build and run a company,” Dorsey wrote in a letter to shareholders of Block, which owns on-line fee platforms Square and Cash App. “A significantly smaller team, using the tools we’re building, can do more and do it better.”

The announcement pushed Block’s stock up greater than 20 p.c earlier than the market opened. Shares had already risen 5 p.c on February 26 to US$54.53 earlier than earnings have been launched, then climbed to just about $69 in after-hours buying and selling.

The cell funds supplier reported that fourth-quarter gross revenue rose 24 p.c from a yr earlier.

Dorsey’s remarks, additionally posted on X, the social media platform he co-founded, explicitly cited AI as a central issue behind the layoffs — a connection another firms have been extra cautious about making.

“For years, we have debated whether AI would dent jobs at the margin. Now we have a public case study in which the CEO explicitly says that intelligence tools have changed what it means to build and run a company,” stated Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management in a commentary.

“Other large employers have announced tens of thousands of cuts in recent months. Some have downplayed the AI link. Block did not,” he added.

San Francisco-based Block, based in 2009, operates within the United States, Canada, components of Europe, Australia, and Japan.

In a publish on X, Dorsey stated the corporate would offer help for workers affected by the cuts, noting that phrases for abroad employees would possibly differ. It was not instantly clear which roles or areas could be most affected.

The layoffs add to a wave of job reductions by main U.S. firms in latest months. While total layoffs stay at comparatively wholesome ranges, corporations together with UPS, Amazon, Dow, and The Washington Post have additionally introduced important workforce cuts.

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