Spot the Guinness; Why the Kids Aren’t All Right: Friday’s First Things First

Welcome to First Things First, Adweek’s daily resource for marketers. We’ll be publishing the content to First Things First on Adweek.com each morning (like this post), but if you prefer that it come straight to your inbox, you can sign up for the email here. As Pubs Reopen, Guinness’ Ad Brilliantly Highlights Everything That Made Fans Crave a Pint Can you spot the Guinness? Or rather, can you not help but spot the Guinness? In this brilliant ad from AMV BBDO celebrating the reopening of pubs across the U.K., fans see the beloved black beer and its foamy top everywhere in their daily lives—from garbage bins and the laundromat to an unassuming pair of socks. Watch the ad and spy a Guinness in everything. Related: After more than a year prioritizing cleanliness and social distancing, Pepsi's latest ad showcasing people carelessly swapping germs is deeply jarring (though less over-the-top than Extra Gum’s recent orgasmic depiction of a similar concept). But so far response to the ad has been positive, with viewers embracing the "messy" nostalgia. Watch Pepsi’s ad, and learn from experts about striking the right tone in ads about the return to human interaction. ‘The Kids Are Not Alright’ in Sandy Hook Promise’s New PSAs About the Remote Schooling Era Nonprofit Sandy Hook Promise is known for its powerful, award-winning and often harrowing ads surrounding gun violence in schools. But its latest set of PSAs branches out from the usual laser focus on this issue to address the mental toll the past year has had on kids. The range of spots are framed as how-to videos, paced much like the daily barrage of news that washed over social media users and news viewers during the pandemic. Find out why the kids definitely aren’t all right. Following 2020 Leadership Shakeup, R/GA Says New Team Is Falling Into Place The last year at R/GA has been one marked by near-constant change, with a slew of departures, arrivals and promotions. But now CEO Sean Lyons says he has the ideal leadership team in place that will enable the agency to charge into the future and truly redefine itself. And the changes don’t stop at top leadership: R/GA has reshaped itself to tighten up business segments, advance customer experience and unlock the potential of automation. Also in agency news: Wieden + Kennedy’s Neil Christie will soon be leaving the agency after 17 years. Christie spoke to Adweek about his career highlights—one of which proved surprisingly musical—and his plans for after his departure.Chaka Sobhani has been promoted to global chief creative officer at Leo Burnett following Liz Taylor’s recent departure.Havas has launched a worldwide creative production studio, Havas Studios, in partnership with creative production agency Wellcom Worldwide.The&Partnership has named former Grey New York executive creative director Hannah Fishman as chief creative officer for North America. Outer Brings Drop Culture to the Furniture Space The sneaker, fashion and cosmetics worlds have long generated massive hype around limited-edition product “drops,” and now thanks to sustainable furniture brand Outer, that trend has reached the home furnishing world. It’s an effective way to grab attention and build excitement by generating a sense of exclusivity and uniqueness. Find out why this tactic is growing beyond the realms of apparel and makeup. These Asian American Creators Want Visibility, and We Want to Be Seen for Who We Are In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Adweek’s Ko Im commissioned powerful illustrations, words, a video diary and a self-portrait from creators who explore what it feels like to be AAPI in 2021. Explore art and insights from Mandy Pham, Anna Melissa, Goldie Chan, Shirley Yu and Adweek’s own intern Sujean Gahng. Related: This campaign, also honoring AAPI History Month, addresses anti-Asian racism by sharing the stories of Seattle’s leaders and celebrities while encouraging other AAPI community members to make their voices heard. Briefly: Viant’s Q1 Revenues Top $40 MillionWalmart Acquires Fitting Room Tech ZeekitVideo Spurs PubMatic’s Q1 Revenues to $43.6 MillionNBCUniversal Unveils 6 New Ad Formats Ahead of UpfrontsCMOs Are Thinking Differently About Keeping Top Talent Around in a Post-Covid WorldMore Than Half of Consumers Say the Pandemic Has Made AR More Important to ThemDisney Extends Major League Baseball TV Rights to ESPN+ as Streaming Momentum SlowsHow CMOs from David’s Bridal and StockX Keep Post-Pandemic Innovation AliveHow Brand Purpose Makes Personal Values Professional Medterra’s Ads Want You to Learn the ‘CBDo’s and CBDon’ts’ of Shopping for CBD CBD brand Medterra has assembled rules that can help you navigate a space that’s jam-packed with more than 3,000 brands. They’re called “the CBDo’s and CBDon’ts of CBD.” More of the Latest: HBO Max to Release Friends Reunion a Year Later Than PlannedThe CW Will Expand Its Schedule to Saturday Nights in OctoberGoogle Campaign Portrays the Damage Covid-19 Has Done to Education'A Lot More Consultative:' Reddit Rebrands Its Creative Strategy Team as KarmaLabLeBron James Imagines Another Life for Himself in First Ad for Mountain Dew's Rise EnergyWhat 2021’s Virtual OZY Fest Suggests About the Future of Events MarketingWhy Pinterest Stopped Live Feedback With Creative PresentationsPandemic Pet Boom Drives Group Nine Media’s Ad Comeback