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Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team has unveiled a landmark global partnership with PepsiCo, set to begin in 2026. The multi-year deal will see three of PepsiCo’s flagship brands – Gatorade, Sting, and Doritos, -integrated across the team’s operations, marking the first time three category-leading PepsiCo brands have partnered with a single F1 team. Gatorade will bring its 60-year heritage and expertise from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) to the paddock for the first time. In a sport where drivers can lose up to four kilograms through sweat in a single race, hydration is critical. The partnership will implement a fully customised performance hydration strategy, giving Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team a potential edge in a competition defined by milliseconds. Don’t miss: What Barilla’s Formula 1 move means for sports advertising beyond the Super Bowl The deal also leverages the appeal of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Russell, an established F1 talent, offers an authentic connection to fans worldwide, while Antonelli represents the sport’s next generation. Both will feature in fan engagement initiatives highlighting the strengths of Gatorade, Doritos and Sting, from behind-the-scenes content to interactive activations. Sting, the leading energy drink in markets including India, Pakistan, Vietnam and Egypt, will extend its high-energy positioning to the F1 paddock. With strong footholds in emerging markets, Sting aims to connect Gen Z fans with the team and accelerate F1 excitement across regions aligned with both the sport’s and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team’s growth. Doritos will complement the partnership with its bold, flavour-forward identity, bringing immersive fan experiences to race weekends. From global activations to on-the-ground fan engagement, Doritos aims to capture the intensity of Grand Prix racing while delivering a snacking experience that mirrors F1’s speed and precision. The partnership positions PepsiCo at the centre of Formula 1’s global momentum, combining performance, energy and fan-first activations across the world’s fastest sport. “This partnership unites performance, energy, and flavour under one banner – connecting three of PepsiCo’s most iconic brands with the world’s most successful Formula 1 team”, said Eugene Willemsen, chief executive officer, international beverages at PepsiCo. He added, “Through Gatorade, Sting, and Doritos, we’re inside the culture of the sport, fuelling both the athletes and the fans who live for the thrill of F1. Partnering with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team reflects our shared commitment to performance, innovation, and excellence – values that define both our organisations.” In tandem, Toto Wolff, team principal and chief executive officer, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, said, “Welcoming a company with a portfolio as strong as PepsiCo’s into our partner ecosystem is another sign of the strength of our team and our sport. As a brand, they align perfectly with our ethos of chasing ultimate performance through innovation and excellence.” Wolff said the partnership leverages each brand’s strengths: Gatorade’s sports science expertise, Sting’s youthful energy, and Doritos’ cultural relevance. He noted that together, they would support the team’s performance while elevating fan experiences globally. Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team’s chief commercial officer, Richard Sanders, described the partnership with PepsiCo as a boost to both fan engagement and day-to-day operations. He noted that the collaboration would help the team deliver stronger experiences at the track and beyond, while enhancing connections with audiences worldwide. The deal with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team follows PepsiCo’s broader global push into Formula 1. The company signed a multi-year partnership with F1 in 2025, bringing Sting Energy, Gatorade and Doritos onto the sport’s global stage. That agreement grants PepsiCo rights across the 21-race calendar and more than 200 broadcast territories, covering trackside advertising, fan zone activations, hospitality packages, product exclusivity, and branded content. It also extends to the F1 Sprint series and the F1 Academy, with plans for on-pack promotions, immersive activations, co-branded merchandise, and limited-edition products to connect fans worldwide. Related articles: Audi F1 Team and adidas team up for high-performance style on and off the track   PepsiCo unveils new global brand identity after 25 years PepsiCo says it will be ‘agentic AI-first’ by 2026 source

UNIQLO is doubling down on the K-pop wave, this time teaming up with global rookie sensation BABYMONSTER for its latest UT (Uniqlo T-shirt) collection—marking the brand’s first-ever collaboration with a K-pop girl group. The launch follows Uniqlo’s previous tie-up with boy group TREASURE, which launched in May this year, signalling that the Japanese retailer is becoming quite the K-pop fashion matchmaker. Dropping 2 February 2026, the BABYMONSTER UT range takes cues from the group’s quintessential hit “BATTER UP,” translating its cool, confident energy into six graphic T-shirt designs. The tees come in a slightly wide, boxy silhouette with a sheer body material developed specially for this collab, plus options in both crew neck and V-neck so fans can style their bias in multiple ways. Don’t miss: OREO and BABYMONSTER bring cookies to the dance floor in limited-edition collab The rollout won’t stop at the clothing rack. Uniqlo will be releasing a full slate of exclusive visuals featuring Baby Monster—think group shots, solo cuts, behind-the-scenes content, and even message videos for fans. The brand says the collection is inspired by the group’s “cool and powerful presence” on the global stage, with the visuals offering fans a peek into Baby Monster’s world. The collection will be available several key Asian markets including Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea, both in stores and online via uniqlo.com. Formed by YG Entertainment and debuting in April 2024, BABYMONSTER is a multinational group with members from South Korea, Thailand, and Japan, known for their all-rounder mix of vocals, rap, dance, and visuals, making them a natural fit for a high-energy UT drop. With K-pop fandom and fashion continuing to collide, this collab might fly off the shelves fast, as BABYMONSTER fans are already showing their excitement online.  The girl-group has been making waves across Asia, with a slew of key brand collaborations over the past year. In October, they teamed up with OREO has teamed for a limited-edition launch that reinvents its iconic ‘Twist, Lick, Dunk’ ritual. The OREO x BABYMONSTER drop introduces the #TwistLickDance, a playful new way to enjoy the cookie with a custom track and choreography by the group. Indonesia’s instant coffee brand Kopi Good Day also poured fresh energy into its latte lineup with the appointment of rising K-pop girl group BABYMONSTER as brand ambassadors, marking the first Southeast Asian brand partnership for the YG Entertainment act. Unveiled under the theme “Have a Good Day with BABYMONSTER”, the partnership reflects Kopi Good Day’s ambition to claim deeper relevance with Gen Z by pairing its sweet, creamy latte variants with the star power of Ruka, Pharita, Asa, Ahyeon, Rami, Rora and Chiquita. Meanwhile in April, McDonald’s Hong Kong partnered exclusively with the Korean girl group BABYMONSTER to provide limited-edition collectibles as part of its latest campaign. This comes as McDonald’s reintroduced the McCrispy to Hong Kong. And to further engage customers and connect with BABYMONSTER’s fans, McDonald’s Hong Kong launched an exclusive ultra-limited gift: the “McDonald’s x BABYMONSTER cassette photo card set”. Last year, Suntory PepsiCo Beverage (Thailand) entered a fizzy new era with a new brand positioning and the appointment of South Korean pop girl group BABYMONSTER as ambassadors for its sugar-free range in the Asia Pacific region. In the commercial, BABYMONSTER recharges after their rehearsal with a Pepsi drink before a giant Pepsi can floats outside the dance studio and interrupts their break. With the girl-group, Pepsi also aims to appeal to the Gen Z crowd which is the heart of its new “Thirsty for More” positioning in Thailand as part of its new logo rollout campaign. Related articles:BABYMONSTER joins Kopi Good Day to front new latte campaignMcDonald’s HK unveils exclusive collab with K-pop girl group BABYMONSTER Pepsi names BabyMonster as new APAC ambassadors  source

As the communications landscape shifts at speed, Zeno Group global CEO Barby K. Siegel says the industry is entering a decisive moment, one where technology, talent and new models of integration will determine which agencies stay relevant. Speaking on Marketing Connected’s Agency Agenda, Siegel shared how Zeno is retooling its global operations while returning to double digit growth in Asia Pacific. AI sits at the heart of this evolution. Siegel notes that communicators are no longer creating content solely for journalists or audiences. Increasingly, they are writing for machines. “If you are writing a press release, you are writing it for the machine because that is the content the LLMs (language learning models) will pull,” she says. Zeno built GEOfluent to help brands understand how they appear in generative models and is developing tools that let clients “make sure information is accurate and showing up in the right ways.” Don’t miss: Agency agenda: Ogilvy ASEAN CEO Kunal Jeswani on his 3 big bets for 2026 She sees this as a major turning point for PR, not a threat. Data and AI now allow communicators to pinpoint what messaging drives action. There is still the human instinct which AI can never replace. “But the data gives us the science,” Siegel added. This blend of art and science is also powering Zeno’s global AI Hive, a predictive system that flags stories before they trend so brands can enter cultural moments more deliberately. AI also reshapes how Zeno thinks about integration. Siegel believes the term has become overused, often without real structural change. Zeno rebuilt its team model to put data, analytics, strategy and creative at the core from the start of every brief. Specialists are then added based on need. The result is leaner, more focused teams. “Clients want greater access to the data that is driving the insights that drive ideas,” she said, adding that the old model of episodic collaboration no longer works in an environment where speed and stakes are high. To future proof the agency, Zeno is investing heavily in skills around AI and emerging tech, but Siegel is quick to note that creativity remains the most valuable human capability. The communicator’s role, she says, is broader than ever, requiring diplomacy, adaptability and a mindset built around impact. “One of the things I tell the teams about all the time is that this is our moment, to evolve and experiment and try new things. This is our moment, being privately held, family-owned, not distracted by all the mergers and consolidations.” Siegel said. Communications has such an important role to play in business, society, and in culture. To hopefully bring people together and move always towards something better. Also tune in to the full conversation on Spotify: Tune into the rest of this conversation on your favourite podcast platforms, by searching up Marketing Connected. For all the visual people out there, we’ve got your back as well, with our vodcasts on YouTube. Related articles: Zeno Australia drives off with Chery Motors PR accountAgency agenda: Sir Martin Sorrell says ‘Data is not the enemy of creativity’Agency agenda: Rana Barua charts Havas’ growth across Asia source

Omnicom Media APAC CEO Tony Harradine has revealed the agency’s new leadership structure, with a set of key leaders to drive growth and innovation across the region. In an internal note, seen by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, Harradine said, bringing together two organisations will always involve difficult decisions, and he acknowledges that openly. “Omnicom Media is committed to supporting everyone impacted, with clear information and ongoing guidance as we navigate these early days together,” he said. Additionally, he shared that overseeing the new vision will be the local market CEOs, a” leadership team that now includes perspectives from both Omnicom and IPG, combining these expertise and a shared vision for growth”. Omnicom Media APAC leadership: • Chief financial officer – Chan Ching Yi• Chief commercial trading officer – Paul Shepherd• President, OMD – Charlotte Lee• President, PHD – Eileen Ooi• President, UM – Rochelle Chhaya• President, Initiative – Leadership appointment to be communicated soon• President, Operations – Sadhan Mishra• EVP, Growth – Garth Farrar• Head of communications – Justin Low• Head of brand marketing – Naomi Michael Omnicom Media market leadership: • Australia – Kristiaan Kroon, CEO, and Donna Bartlett, CFO• China – Claudine Kwek, CEO, and Jane Gu, CFO• Hong Kong – Derek Yip, COO, and Jacqueline Chan, CFO• India – Kartik Sharma, CEO, Rishit Mehta, CFO, Amardeep Singh, COO, and Shashi Sinha, strategic advisor• Indonesia – Rajat Basra, CEO, and Lana Dardjowidjojo, CFO• Japan – Matt Ware, CEO, and Takahiro Oe, CFO• Malaysia – Eileen Ooi, executive integration lead, Darren Yuen, CEO, and Muralitharan Ramasamy, CFO• New Zealand – Nikki Grafton, CEO, and Verity McQuade, CFO• Philippines – Mary Buenaventura, CEO, and Ulysses King, CFO• Singapore – Chloe Neo, CEO, and Reynold Seah, CFO• Taiwan – Kelly Huang, CEO, and Lisa Wu, CFO• Thailand – Rochelle Chhaya, CEO, and Noppadol Vetvoranich, CFO• Vietnam – Van Anh Tran Luu, CEO, Julien Courant, COO, and Tam Pham, CFO Earlier today, MARKETING-INTERACTIVE reported that Leigh Terry has exited his role as CEO of IPG Mediabrands APAC as the Omnicom–IPG merger triggers major leadership consolidation across the region. Tony Harradine was set to take on responsibility for Omnicom Media across APAC following Terry’s departure. Terry has led Mediabrands across 16 markets since January 2017, overseeing more than 5,000 staff across the region, and guiding the network through shifts in digital, data and media investment.  In the internal note, Harradine added that while many of these names will be familiar across much of the APAC community, he also recognises that some of the employees will be working with new leaders for the first time. He added that more details will be revealed in the upcoming townhalls. “Culturally, the integration feels like a natural evolution. We collectively share a deep commitment to client partnership, operational excellence, and developing talent. This foundation will allow us to move quickly and confidently as we begin building new ways of working,” he added. Yesterday, Omnicom announced that it would retire several long-established agency brands which will see the company will cut more than 4,000 jobs as part of the immediate post-merger integration. Omnicom will formally debut the combined organisation and introduce the next generation of its Omni platform at CES 2026. Year-end earnings in February will outline integration progress and synergy expectations, followed by an Investor Day. Related articles: James Hawkins departs IPG Mediabrands APAC as merger reshapes region Leigh Terry exits IPG Mediabrands APAC amid Omnicom–IPG integration Omnicom to shutter longstanding agencies, cut 4,000 jobs following IPG merger source

Prada has completed its acquisition of Versace from Capri Holdings after securing all required regulatory approvals, the company said in a statement. Capri Holdings confirmed the transaction, noting that Versace was sold for US$1.375 billion in cash, subject to adjustments. Capri said the proceeds will be used to repay most of its debt to strengthen its balance sheet. John D. Idol, chairman and chief executive officer of Capri Holdings, said the move will reduce the group’s leverage ratio and give it more financial flexibility to invest in growth and return capital to shareholders. Don’t miss: Luxury goes pop: How music videos are the new catwalks for high fashion brands He added that Capri remains focused on driving its strategic plans across Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo as it aims to stabilise the business this year and build toward a return to growth in fiscal 2027. Idol also thanked the Versace team for its contributions, singling out Donatella Versace, Dario Vitale and Emmanuel Gintzburger for their leadership. “I wish the Versace team continued success in the future, and believe Prada is the ideal partner to guide this celebrated luxury house into its next era of growth,” he added.  Capri had first unveiled the sale in April this year. At the time, Idol had said then that Versace had been repositioned to emphasise its luxury heritage and craftsmanship, and that Capri viewed the deal as part of its wider plan to strengthen its balance sheet while supporting the long-term growth of Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo. MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to Prada for more information.  The Prada–Versace deal also lands amid a wave of high-value acquisitions reshaping the consumer landscape. In July, Ferrero added to the momentum with a US$3.1 billion agreement to acquire WK Kellogg Co, the maker of Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops and Special K. The move broadens Ferrero’s North American portfolio into new consumption occasions and reinforces its strategy of acquiring and scaling iconic brands across the region. Related articles: L’Oréal Groupe taps iProspect to debut Prada Beauty in Taiwan     BOSS Fragrances turns perfume into happy hour with scent-inspired cocktails  How Coach is winning over Gen Z one experience at a time source

Tiger Brokers Singapore is making investing more accessible, engaging and community-driven for retail investors in Singapore. Over the weekend of 22 to 23 November at Plaza Singapura, the online brokerage firm hosted its flagship “Tiger Trade Experience 2025: What’s your secret sauce” event, hosting over 4,000 attendees at the activation.  Ahead of the event, Tiger Brokers ran an online quiz designed to help participants identify their “secret sauce” as investors, categorising trading styles as ‘Salt’, ‘Wasabi’, or ‘Sambal Chilli’. The quiz aimed to build engagement among retail investors and drive attendance at the live activation. The pop-up transformed Plaza Singapura’s atrium into “Tastemakers corp”, a themed space blending finance and play. Attendees completed interactive missions, explored Tiger Trade tools at the Tiger Innovation Lab, and engaged in life-sized games such as giant Jenga and a human claw machine at Tiger PLAYce, winning limited-edition Tiger merchandise. Don’t miss: Wise calls out hidden transfer fees in cheeky carrot-themed activation  The event also highlighted TigerAI, the platform’s AI-powered trading assistant for retail investors, allowing visitors to explore personalised portfolio insights and decision-making tools. According to Tiger Brokers, first-time users of Tiger Trade at the event demonstrated strong interest in these tools, signalling growing demand for approachable, technology-driven investing solutions. “Investing has often felt intimidating for many beginners,” said Ian Leong, CEO of Tiger Brokers Singapore. “With Tiger Trade Experience 2025, we’re reaching investors through experiences that are engaging, playful, and relatable.” Ernest Teh, associate director of marketing, added that the “What’s your secret sauce” concept aimed to make investing personal and expressive, reflecting different investor personalities in a hands-on, immersive format. The activation aligns with Tiger Brokers’ broader “Invest in what matters, together” campaign, which takes the firm’s engagement beyond product features to everyday life, connecting investing to personal milestones and aspirations. Central to the campaign was a TVC that follows a young father and his son through life milestones, connecting the act of investing to family, ambition, and securing a better future, reinforcing that behind every trade is a story that matters. Running from the second half of 2025 through the first half of 2026, the campaign highlights the personal side of investing and reminding audiences that behind every trade is a deeper story, whether that’s family, ambition or securing a better future. Related articles:   Tiger Brokers trades charts for hearts in emotive brand shift  Tiger Brokers promotes new crypto trading feature with OOH campaign  Tiger Brokers picks new creative and social agency for Tiger Trade   source

Google is reshaping its Southeast Asia leadership structure to better support businesses navigating the region’s rapid AI adoption. As digital platforms like Search and YouTube increasingly power consumer connections, the company is enhancing local expertise and cross-market collaboration to help clients innovate more efficiently. Farhan S. Qureshi, formerly country director for Google Malaysia, has been appointed regional director, business and operations for Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and frontier markets. In a LinkedIn post, Farhan emphasised his focus on driving growth in these dynamic markets: “I am honoured to step into this role leading a new cluster dedicated to maximising opportunities across these incredibly dynamic markets. The innovation and growth potential here is truly inspiring, but we recognize that capturing it demands a specialized approach rather than a one-size-fits-all model.” Don’t miss: Google elevates Ben King to lead newly consolidated Singapore-Malaysia cluster He added, “To ensure our clients get the best results, we are focusing entirely on empowering our local leaders. My role is to support and scale their success by helping our teams move beyond local limitations, providing them with access to regional scale, faster innovation, and the specialised resources they need to win.” Farhan further highlighted that this approach “focuses on enabling agility to capture new opportunities and drive sustainable growth in an AI-driven future,” while working closely with in-market leaders in Philippines and Thailand, whose local expertise is critical to delivering results. According to Google, the expansion also includes two other recent appointments: Prep Palacios as country director in the Philippines and Rafael Scislowski as country director in Thailand. “This leadership evolution underscores Google’s continued investment in Southeast Asia and its commitment to aligning the right teams and talent with the region’s most important customer needs,” the company shared.  Central to this move was Ben King’s appointment as managing director for Google Malaysia and Singapore, reported by A+M last month. King will oversee the recently expanded SEA agency and partner function, which now goes beyond media agencies to include creative, creator, tech, and platform partnerships. The unified structure is designed to foster synergy across teams, enabling faster deployment of Google’s AI-powered solutions while sharing best-in-class strategies and vertical expertise across markets. King has passed his previous APAC responsibilities to global and multi-market teams. Previously, King served as managing director, Google Singapore, APAC agency and industry relations, where he led a team supporting agencies and clients to grow their businesses online. His role encompassed initiatives with positive impact on the Singapore community, including skilling, SME digitisation, and sustainability. Related articles: Google Wallet and Google Pay go live in PH with broad bank and merchant support Google DeepMind opens new AI research lab in SingaporeJason Tedjasukmana leaves Google after more than a decade in comms leadership source

Yeo Hiap Seng (Yeo’s) is closing out the year with a design-driven festive campaign that pairs product innovation with collectible packaging, placing the brand at the crossroads of nostalgia, craftsmanship and modern gifting culture. The campaign, “It’s the most brew-tiful time of the year,” shines a spotlight on the newly launched ‘White peach tea’, a delicate fusion of real white peach juice and smooth black tea. Joining Yeo’s tea series, the drink reinforces the brand’s focus on flavour experiences crafted for sharing, gifting and seasonal rituals. But the real story this season is the Yeo’s festive mailbox, a limited-edition collectible that blends brand storytelling with lifestyle design. Inspired by classic Christmas mailboxes, the piece opens to reveal mini “parcels” wrapped like personal gifts, each one holding tea favourites or small festive accessories. Don’t miss: Apple’s holiday film stars a bunch of whimsical puppet critters and an iPhone 17 Pro  In an era where packaging has become a cultural moment in itself, Yeo’s is clearly betting on physical experiences to spark emotional connection. Finished in a pastel turquoise with understated detailing, the mailbox is built to outlive the season as a décor object or storage piece for trinkets, stationery or jewellery. Think: FMCG meets keepsake lifestyle branding. To amplify reach, the brand will run a social media giveaway from 1 to 10 December 2025 on Instagram and TikTok, inviting consumers to win the festive mailbox and create their own unboxing content.  “This Christmas, we hope to capture the quiet holiday magic that unfolds in the in-between moments; the soft rituals and gentle pauses where the season truly reveals itself,” said Alex Chen, head of SG marketing and business development at Yeo’s. “‘It’s the most brew-tiful time of the year’ is our ode to that feeling. Our white peach tea is designed for the moments when you pause amid the festive rush and let the holiday magic sink in,’ added Chen.  Yeo’s has also shown its flair for playful, culturally tuned campaigns with the earlier launch of “Gen Tea,” which celebrated Singaporeans born after 2000. The campaign, created by Forsman & Bodenfors’ F&B Studios, riffed on the ‘T’ prefix in NRICs, declaring that in Yeo’s world, it stands for “tea.” Social-first and experiential, it included Instagram posts featuring Teamothy Yeo and an activation at One Holland Village where participants could claim an “Identi-Tea card” and redeem a bottle of ‘First harvest green tea’. Related articles:  Yeo’s backs para-athletes in new Singapore Disability Sports Council partnership  Yeo’s ignites dragon fever with fiery beverage collab  Yeo’s ushers in CNY with limited-edition packaging and record-breaking installation  source

Happy Friday, MARKETING-INTERACTIVE readers and welcome back to Gen Z Perspectives, your go-to feature where we unpack the week’s top stories and trending topics through the eyes of Gen Z. From the biggest industry moves to viral moments and marketing controversies worth dissecting, we’re bringing the heat with authenticity, awareness and probably a few unfiltered takes. This week: Omnicom’s IPG deal clears, KFC Kallang gets a neon-lit revamp, and Malaysia clamps down on under-16s on social media. Headlines so hot, they’re finger-lickin’ good. Don’t miss: Gen Z perspectives: Nike’s soup drop, Kylie Cosmetics in SG & ‘idiots’ remark 1. EU greenlights Omnicom-IPG US$13.5bn merger The European Commission has given the green light for Omnicom’s proposed acquisition of IPG, ruling that the deal raises no competition concerns across the European Economic Area (EEA). Following the EU approval, Omnicom has officially completed its acquisition of Interpublic, forming the world’s largest holding group with more than US$25 billion in combined revenue and a mandate to lead what CEO John Wren calls the “next era” of intelligent, connected growth. The deal unites two of the industry’s biggest holding companies under the Omnicom umbrella. Wren remains chairman and CEO, with Phil Angelastro staying on as EVP and CFO. Philippe Krakowsky and Daryl Simm become co-presidents and co-COOs. The full leadership slate will be announced on 1 December. Read more here, and here. 2. KFC Singapore unveils first-ever merchandise space at revamped Kallang outlet KFC has reopened its Kallang outlet after a months-long renovation, unveiling neon-lit interiors, interactive features, and Singapore’s first physical merchandise corner. The revamp reflects the brand’s push to make its outlets more than just dining spaces, combining social and lifestyle experiences under one roof. The space launches with the latest limited-edition capsule collection from homegrown streetwear label AMOS X ANANDA, created by Singaporean designer Amos Yeo, on 28 November 2025. Read more here.  3. Under-16s to be banned from social media in 2026 The Malaysian government is set to bar teens under 16 from signing up for social media accounts starting next year, raising the age limit from the earlier proposed threshold of 13. Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil told local media this week that all platform providers will be required to implement electronic know-your-customer (eKYC) identity verification by then. Registration will rely on official documents such as MyKad, passports and MyDigital ID. Read more here.  Related articles: The Omnicom–IPG mega merger changes everything, especially for CMOs    Singtel amps up BLACKPINK mania with month-long fan playground     Agency agenda: Ogilvy ASEAN CEO Kunal Jeswani on his 3 big bets for 2026 source

Omnicom will retire several long-established agency brands, including DDB, FCB and MullenLowe, as part of its integration of Interpublic into a single global group. In a sweeping restructure following its US$13.3 billion takeover of Interpublic, Omnicom is consolidating overlapping networks, folding FCB into BBDO and rolling DDB and MullenLowe into TBWA. Financial Times reports the company will cut more than 4,000 jobs as part of the immediate post-merger integration. Omnicom’s own announcement made no reference to the retirement of any agency brands, but the new Omnicom website confirms the shift. DDB, FCB and MullenLowe no longer appear anywhere in the creative structure, which is now built around three global networks: BBDO, McCann and TBWA. Don’t miss: Omnicom–IPG merger changes everything, especially for CMOs In Asia, Omnicom Advertising will be led by Sean Donovan. The three global networks sit alongside a group of 12 creative boutiques, including Alma, antoni, Carmichael Lynch, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, Lucky Generals and Martin Agency. These remain listed with their existing leadership. Media sits under a consolidated Omnicom Media Group built around OMD, PHD, UM, Initiative, Mediahub Worldwide, Hearts & Science and Acxiom. Tony Harradine will lead Omnicom Media across APAC. Public relations and public affairs now operate around a defined set of core brands. Public relations includes FleishmanHillard, Golin, Ketchum, Porter Novelli and Weber Shandwick, along with firms such as Mercury, FP1, PLUS and gmmb. Public affairs includes maslansky + partners, Portland and a small number of other advocacy-focused agencies. The broader leadership team remains as previously announced. Florian Adamski leads Omnicom Media and Chris Foster oversees public relations. Duncan Painter runs Omni and the Flywheel commerce network and Michael Larson leads Diversified Agency Services. Jacki Kelley and Andrea Lennon serve as client success leaders, while George Manas transitions into the chief growth and solutions officer role from 1 February 2026. John Wren continues as chairman and CEO, supported by CFO Phil Angelastro and co-presidents and COOs Philippe Krakowsky and Daryl Simm. Local leadership and updates for APAC markets may be announced as soon as today. Omnicom will formally debut the combined organisation and introduce the next generation of its Omni platform at CES 2026. Year-end earnings in February will outline integration progress and synergy expectations, followed by an Investor Day. Related articles:   How are industry players coping with the consolidation wave? When scale meets strategy: Agency shake-ups that shaped 2025 EU greenlights Omnicom-IPG US$13.5bn merger   source