The Ad Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Jill Smith - CEO, America's - Iris Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

Over 15-years of experience working with start-ups, ad agencies and world class brands in North America, Europe and China.
For the past decade she has been a part of the Cheil Network holding client service and growth roles at the regional and global level for IRIS and at the group level as Global CMO for Cheil Connec+.
Cheil Connec+ brings specialists together from 6 creative companies (Barbarian, McKinney, IRIS, BMB, CYLNDR, & of course, Cheil) in 53 offices and with over 6500 experts worldwide.
Currently, she is CEO of the Americas for IRIS. Working with talent and clients across our offices in Atlanta, Boston, New York, San Francisco, São Paulo and Toronto.

Sean McCaffrey - CEO - GSTV Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

Sean is CEO of the new Destination Media and GSTV. He was recruited to lead the next generation of growth following a joint venture announcement that combined the assets and operations of Verifone's media division with the former Gas Station TV, owned by Detroit-based Rockbridge Growth Equity and Falcon Investment Advisors. The combined business now operates under the GSTV brand and deliver 3.3 billion brand safe 1-to-1 annual impressions from over 29,000+ locations in all 50 states.
Sean previously served as EVP – Strategy & Partnerships at Clear Channel Outdoor, Americas. While at CCO he led all strategic revenue activity with leading agency and brand partners and pioneered new product and partnership approaches to OOH, DOOH and integrated media campaigns. He’s been continually focused on driving business results by understanding the evolution of media, the consumer journey and behavioral insights by using data, technology and the power of content to drive brand and consumer engagement.
While at Clear Channel he also led industry sales and marketing initiatives across verticals, integrated sales partnerships, industry events such as Cannes Lions, CES, ANA events and so on and he has been a featured speaker and writer. He also led global client outreach & strategy which created first-to-market global client and agency partnerships across technology, fashion, beverages and more as well leading global agency holding companies.
Prior to his last role, Sean held a variety of executive sales and marketing positions across North American regions. He began his career at a private-equity backed media company which ultimately grew to a 9-figure IPO and subsequent acquisition and consolidation of an industry sector. Working for both small and large organizations and public and private ownership, he has a broad point-of-view of managing organizational change, integration, business growth strategy, team strategy development and collaborative leadership and vision.

Nadja Bellan‑White - Group CEO, North America - M+C Saatchi Group Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

Nadja Bellan‑White is a powerhouse leader in global marketing and communications, currently serving as Group CEO, North America at M+C Saatchi Group and CEO of SS+K. With over three decades of experience across markets including the U.S., EMEA, LatAm, and APAC, she has a proven track record leading transformation and brand growth .

Her career highlights include:

Global Chief Marketing Officer at Vice Media Group (2020–2023): Guided enterprise-wide brand strategy during a pivotal era in youth media.
Executive Partner & WPP Team Leader at Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide: Led major brand transformations for Dove (Unilever), and spearheaded initiatives for American Express, Coca-Cola, IKEA North America, Siemens, LG, and more .
CEO of Ogilvy Africa (2014–2017): Directed the largest agency network on the continent, managing diverse client portfolios across Africa.

Nadja is celebrated for her bold, inclusive leadership style and her unwavering advocacy for diversity. She co-founded Ogilvy/WPP Roots, champions cultural representation, and actively shapes industry standards. Her achievements have been recognized through awards such as AdColor’s Legend Award and inclusion in Savoy Magazine’s Top 100 Women in Corporate America.

She holds a BA in Foreign Affairs and Spanish from the University of Virginia and an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business.

Ali Cornford – Managing Director & Geoff McHenry – Head of Strategy- 72andSunny New York Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

Ali Cornford – Managing Director, 72andSunny New York

Ali relocated from Toronto to New York and brings over 15 years of leadership in advertising and agency management . In March 2024, she was named Managing Director of 72NY, joining the executive leadership alongside Juliana Cobb and Geoff McHenry. Previously, she led Convicts as MD (2021–2024) and held account and business roles at BBH, Droga5, Anomaly, BBDO, and Grey Canada. In her current role, Ali oversees agency operations and client partnerships, with clients including Paramount+, Sleep Number, E*Trade, 1800 Tequila, Autotrader, and Comcast Adweek. Known for her “gritty hunger, curiosity, and leadership,” she’s focused on driving business growth, award-winning campaigns (including E*Trade Super Bowl work), and an invigorated agency culture Adweek.

Geoff McHenry – Head of Strategy (formerly Executive Strategy Director), 72andSunny New York

Geoff is a strategist, thought leader, DJ, and public speaker who joined 72NY in October 2023 as Executive Strategy Director, setting vision for the strategy department and leading its growth. He came from Translation, where he led strategy on high-profile work like WhatsApp’s “Naija Odyssey” documentary about Giannis Antetokounmpo. Before that, he was at Wieden+Kennedy NY managing strategy for vitaminwater, Jordan Brand, and Sprite. A Morehouse College graduate, Geoff is passionate about building culturally relevant brands, mentoring diverse talent, and driving industry change through roles like ADCOLOR advisory co-lead. His work emphasizes strategic clarity, collaboration with creatives, and balancing cultural insight with marketing effectiveness

Rhonda Hiatt - Global CEO - M+C Saatchi Consulting Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

Rhonda Hiatt is an executive leader with 20+ years of global consulting experience. As the Global CEO of M+C Saatchi Consulting, Rhonda leads the specialism’s strategic direction, operational management and client partnerships that drive commercial impact. She is also a member of the M+C Saatchi Group’s Senior Leadership Team.

Rhonda has a deep expertise that continues to grow the network’s brand experience, retail & innovation offer, especially delivering growth strategies for clients including McDonald’s, Applebee’s, Toyota, Lexus, Nike, Fruit of the Loom, Ashley Furniture, Google, and more.

Prior to M+C Saatchi, Rhonda was Executive Director, Brand Strategy & Analytics at Interbrand, where she focused on retail and CPG clients.

Rhonda has been recognized in Design Retail’s 40 Under 40 for her contributions to the retail industry and has been honored as one of Consulting Magazine’s Top Consultants for Excellence in Client Services. She is a member of Chief, a private network focused on connecting and supporting women executive leaders. Rhonda is also a member of PTTOW!, an invite-only community for today's most creative and inspiring CEOs, CMOs, and Icons from all 70 major industries, which are shaping our culture.

Robin Clarke - Global CEO of Passions & PR - M +C Saatchi Group Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

Robin Clarke is the Global CEO of Passions & PR at M C Saatchi Group, where he leads the Sport & Entertainment and Talk PR divisions across North America, EMEA, and beyond. He was appointed to this role in July 2024 and sits on the agency’s Executive Leadership Team under Global CEO Zaid Al‑Qassab.

Bringing nearly 25 years of experience in sports and entertainment marketing, Robin began his career in sports hospitality sales before moving into advertising and agency leadership. His previous roles include Senior Business Manager at M&C Saatchi (2002–2003), Head of Fuse Sport & Entertainment at Manning Gottlieb OMD (2004–2010), and leadership positions at Starcom EMA and Publicis Media Sport & Entertainment (2010–2018).

From 2018 to 2024, Robin was a key leader at 160over90 (part of Endeavor), serving first as SVP International and later as Global EVP. There, he managed major global client relationships—including DP World, Visa, AB InBev, and Marriott—and built a strong industry network.

At M C Saatchi, Robin spearheads the “Cultural Power” strategy within Passions & PR, integrating sport, entertainment, and PR capabilities to deliver global campaigns and fan-focused narratives. Under his leadership, the agency has expanded client offerings across lifestyle, music, film, and large-scale sporting events, including preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and Los Angeles 2028 Olympics

Stevie Archer - Regional Chief Creative Officer, North America - M+C Saatchi Jul 12, 2025

Show notes

Stevie Archer is the Regional Chief Creative Officer, North America at M+C Saatchi (SS+K), based in the New York City metro area. Named after Stevie Nicks, she grew up in Winston‑Salem, North Carolina, and earned a degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill .

Stevie began her career as a copywriter, building experience at agencies including McKinney, Mullen, and Big Spaceship—where she led Starbucks accounts—before joining SS+K in 2019 as Executive Creative Director.

She rose to Chief Creative Officer in late 2023 and was recently promoted to Regional CCO, N. America in early 2025 .

Her award-winning work includes the “Looks Like You Need Iceland” campaign, creative strategy for Mount Sinai Health System, JPMorgan Chase’s Detroit revival, LeBron James’s More Than a Vote voter initiative, and rebranding projects for clients like Smartsheet .

Known for blending political‑style strategic thinking with bold creative ideas, Stevie thrives on tackling complex challenges—from helping reshape tourism to influencing social change

Cherie R. Cohen - Global Chief Revenue Officer - X Games Jul 12, 2025

Show notes

Cherie R. Cohen is a seasoned media and sports executive currently serving as Global Chief Revenue Officer at X Games. She joined the organization in 2025 as it embarks on evolving into a year‑round international action‑sports league. Prior to X Games, Cherie spent five years as CRO at the World Surf League, where she significantly diversified sponsorships—bringing in brands like Red Bull, Lexus, Neutrogena, Chase, Samsung Electronics, Corona, Apple—and forged partnerships with tourism agencies to grow new revenue streams Earlier in her career, she held key sales and revenue roles at ESPN, NBCUniversal, and Paramount Pictures, managing major events such as Monday Night Football, Super Bowl, the International Olympic Committee – IOC, National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals, and X‑Games .

Dani Mariano - CEO - Razorfish Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

As CEO of Razorfish, Dani Mariano leads teams who are focused on delivering performance outcomes rooted in brand purpose. Innovation is in Razorfish’s DNA, and Dani is leading the agency’s day-to-day operations at a time when exponential growth in emerging spaces such as AI and Web3 has never been more attainable. She is committed to discovering how Razorfish can help brands build relationships in this new digital age through valuable consumer touch points, and how to keep companies at the forefront of the latest technology advancements to future-proof them for what’s to come. Most importantly, she empowers the agency’s team members to seek opportunities for growth that will prepare them to be the next generation of agency leadership.

During her time at Razorfish and its parent company, Publicis Groupe, Dani has led an award-winning global digital marketing transformation for Samsung spanning the Web3 launch of 837X and Discord channel, DTC commerce experiences, social commerce innovations, global website UI-redesign, and advanced analytics & measurement – all underpinned by a relentless focus on consumer behavior fueled by data insights. Dani’s blend of deep expertise in marketing, pioneering approach to new technologies, and digital-first innovation has translated into a track record of industry recognitions, such as Hermes Creative Award 2022, Data Breakthrough Award 2022, Effie 2022, Adweek Media Plan of the Year 2021, and multiple Webby Awards.

Prior to joining Razorfish and Publicis, Dani spent over 20 years in marketing leadership roles working with brands such as Nestle, Avery Denison, DIRECTV, Honda, Alterna Hair Care, and Public Storage.

When Dani is not following her relentless curiosity around emerging technology and the implications for consumer experiences, she can be found around Los Angeles or relaxing at the beach with her family.

Shannon Pruitt - Global Chief Marketing Officer - Stagwell’s Brand Performance Network (BxP) Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

Shannon Pruitt serves as Global Chief Marketing Officer for Stagwell’s Brand Performance Network (BxP), where she leads global business development, marketing, and communications efforts. Promoted in February 2024, she previously held the role of Global Chief Content & Partnership Innovation Officer, joining Stagwell in 2020.

With over two decades of agency- and brand-side experience, Shannon previously served as Chief Marketing Officer at The Honest Company and co-founded Dentsu’s The Story Lab, guiding campaigns for Fortune 100 brands like P&G, Microsoft, Mondelez, and MasterCard. She has also spearheaded content and business teams at Warner Bros., Fremantle, Octagon, and 19 Entertainment, and led integrated sponsorship strategies for the FIFA World Cup, MLB, and NFL .

An MBA graduate from the University of Oregon, Shannon is a proud advocate for DEI and ESG, having launched Stagwell’s “Partners for Progress” diversity initiative and overseen global ESG consolidation efforts stagwellglobal.com.

Based in Los Angeles, she blends strategic storytelling, data-informed marketing, and partnership innovation to drive unified brand and performance outcomes across Stagwell’s network.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected