Booms & Shakes: strategy hires, mergers and craft in October
The creative industry is undergoing a period of significant restructuring, characterized by a shift toward human-led craft and strategic measurement. Agencies are increasingly prioritizing specialized strategy roles and data-driven results over AI-centric branding.
Why it matters
This trend highlights a maturing market response to AI, where agencies are emphasizing human expertise and tangible ROI to differentiate themselves in a competitive landscape.
Strategy hires, mergers up North, and craft everywhere you look. Here are October's biggest movers and shakers, and what they tell us about where the creative industry is heading next.
Claire Blyth with Cher Keane at Red Setter
September was all about confidence returning to the industry. This month, it's about what people are doing with it, as far as I can tell. Because what I'm seeing is a lot of restructuring.
Strategy is still a big deal. Landor has created a global strategy role for James Withey, Small World has made its first head of strategy, and Dalziel & Pow has appointed Adam Thompson to lead its strategy team. People mean business. Add FutureBrand's reshuffle, and that's four agencies doubling down on the stuff AI can't ever replicate.
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