The Big Impression

Marriott is synonymous with travel. With its extensive portfolio of hotel brands and styles and services that suit every type of traveler, it’s no wonder it is leading the way in reengaging travelers. In this episode, we speak with Nicolette Harper, VP of Media at Marriott to hear how the company planned its global relaunch after more than a year of travel restrictions. As wanderlust builds amongst consumers around the world — even as travel remains in flux because of the pandemic — we dive deep into how Marriott is inspiring travelers to book their next trip. We also learn about an exciting future Marriott destination — the world’s first metaverse hotel. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As a top-five automaker, and recently ranked #1 in the U.S. by Reputation, Nissan is no stranger to staying ahead of opportunities around the bend. This is especially true under the leadership of U.S. CMO, Allyson Witherspoon. Whether it’s debuting a new e-commerce platform to meet customer demand during a time when dealership visits were impossible, or reimagining launches for 10 new models this year, Allyson leads Nissan’s marketing efforts with creativity and compassion. In this episode, we get a chance to learn how she navigated a transformative year for auto, from semiconductor chip shortages affecting inventory to a massive industry shift toward electrification, all while maintaining a sharp focus on what drives her: building life-long bonds with customers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

At more than 160 years old, Anheuser-Busch — parent company to more than 100 brands including international linchpins like Budweiser, Bud Light and Stella Artois— has a sizable hold on the beer market and yet still innovates, building out its e-commerce initiatives and brand portfolio in recent years into categories like craft beer, seltzer, and canned wines. The company’s adaptability to the ever-changing market and consumer trends extends to its advertising strategy. This week, we speak with Paolo Provinciali, VP of media and data at Anheuser-Busch, about reaching new consumers through digital channels like connected TV and how the brand is prioritizing data to connect with the consumer in relevant ways. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

About 450 million people visit Pinterest every month to be inspired by pinners’ boards of images and videos featuring everything from wedding dresses to making quick meals. The 11-year-old visual discovery engine has grown its e-commerce capabilities, brand partnerships and continues to add ad formats and features for its expanding creator community. Pinterest's large female user base and its approach to e-commerce have inspired marketers to invest in the creator culture. Jon Kaplan, Pinterest's former chief revenue officer and an ex-Googler, joins the podcast to discuss how the brand is evolving as an important channel for marketers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There are a lot of water brands on the market. In fact, the market for bottled water in the United States is estimated to be around $20 billion. And yet, the founders of Liquid Death Mountain Water found an innovative way to enter this market with an in-your-face brand — in a can with a skull on it — that blows away all preconceptions about how to market water. In just four short years, the startup has amassed more Instagram followers than any other brand on the market. The company has a simple but brilliant marketing strategy that has nothing to do with the traditional playbook. For a start, its tag line is “murder your thirst.” It’s a very punk rock way to sell water. We sit down with Hamid Saify, the VP of E-Commerce for Liquid Death to crack open a tall boy of water and talk about how the brand achieved success. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As one of the world’s largest producers of electronics, it’s no surprise Samsung’s own mobile marketing is setting the bar. Whether it’s launching its new innovative take on the flip phone with bold new creative, or showcasing its products on reality shows, or digging into data to understand how to best speak to consumers, Samsung’s mobile marketing is on the frontlines of creativity. In this episode, we speak with Janet Lee, VP/CMO, Mobile Experience at Samsung Electronics America, to hear how she’s leading with interesting creative and data-led strategies. As mobile use continues to grow worldwide, we dive deep into how Samsung is building lifelong relationships with its consumers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Visible is an all-digital wireless carrier owned by Verizon, marketed to customers who want a more flexible phone plan that won’t break the bank. It was recently named the “Best Telecom Brand” by Adweek. Since the pandemic, the company has cultivated and expanded its younger, tech-savvy customer base thanks to the marketing leadership of Minjae Ormes, the former Visible CMO who is now at LinkedIn. In this edition of The Current podcast, Ormes reflects on how her company’s values of economic and racial equity were reaffirmed during a turbulent year, and why that is crucial to the brand’s identity. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this edition of The Current podcast, we hear from Josh Brandau, the CMO at the Los Angeles Times. Brandau, who comes from the agency world, recently took on the title, and he’s tasked with growing the celebrated publication’s digital subscribers from 400,000 to 1 million in a world where newsprint is declining. With publications caught between subscriptions and digital ads, Brandau offers his insights into how the LA Times is navigating the choppy waters of change with a fresh marketing strategy that sees California as the center of gravity. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Spotify started podcast wars. And before it was the podcasting behemoth it is today, it built its name and reputation as a music streaming service. From a small start-up in Sweden, the company has grown to become the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service with over 365 million users, including 165 million subscribers, across 178 markets. In this edition of The Current podcast, we hear from Jay Richman, the VP, head of global advertising and platforms, to find out why the company is betting big on podcasts (with over 2.6 million on the platform, plus this one) and how the company is thinking about improving the advertiser experience for listeners. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Doug Milliken joined The Clorox Company in 1987 before “digital” was even a strategy. After 34 years, he’s now the VP of marketing and digital transformation at the company. Milliken has seen Clorox expand and diversify into the global powerhouse it is today, with a portfolio of brands ranging from its namesake bleach to Burt’s Bees to Kingsford charcoal. We sit down with Milliken and ask him what’s the point of capturing first-party data to sell lip balm, as well as why the brand kept spending ad dollars during the pandemic when other companies were hitting pause. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In June 2020, Zena Arnold became the Global Chief Digital and Marketing Officer at Kimberly-Clark — the CPG giant famous for its paper goods such as Cottonelle, Kleenex and Huggies. Its products are used by more than a quarter of the world’s population in 175 countries. Facing the challenge of joining the company amid a global pandemic, Arnold brought lessons from her years as a Google executive into a classic CPG environment. In this debut episode of The Current podcast, we sit down with Arnold — who is remarkably candid — to find out how she helped Kimberly-Clark embark on a global digital transformation during a year when everything changed. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.