–Angela Bassett narrates this new “Ode to the Builders” Ford spot by African American AOR UWG.
-The Wall Street Journal reports that Stagwell Group, the mini-holding company founded by former WPP executive and Clinton family advisor Mark Penn, is in talks to acquire a minority stake in MDC Partners with Penn as CEO.
-Paris agency Herezie parted with ECD Baptiste Clinet following a Le Monde report in which multiple women made claims of harassment and wrongful termination. Their case is currently in court, and the shop also said it will sue Le Monde for defamation.
-Ogilvy recently won The Washington Post and Poland Spring, though it’s still recovering from 2017’s AmEx loss.
-Giant Spoon tells Digiday that this year’s SXSW isn’t all about escapism. There’s still plenty of alcohol and Game of Thrones activations, though.
-“Advertising gets on my tits” is one of the more striking International Women’s Day op-ed headlines out there. (It’s anti-gender stereotypes.)
-On the brand side, Budweiser remade some old school sexist ads.
-Chicago-based indie media agency Kelly Scott Madison named Kay Wesolowski as svp overseeing Strategy & Engagement, Sy Chaba as chief investment officer leading Investment Solutions, and svp Henry Webster on Analytics & Insights.