How to build a holdco that’s good for media — with Dentsu, Omnicom and WPP

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1 minute
Andria Vidler, Annette Male, Dan Clays and Michael Karg at The Future of Media London 2026

From left: Vidler, Male, Clays and Karg


Highlights

4:01: What does a client hire a holdco for today?

9:02: Transformations and staying ahead of change: more integration, fewer siloes

15:01: Competing with independents

18:37: Not racing to the bottom: investing in talent, quality media environments and pushing back on short-termism

31:02: How holdcos are using AI

34:06: European vs US growth

Last week, The Media Leader hosted its annual Future of Media conference in London. Across two days, industry leaders discussed the state of all things media: topics included how AI is changing working practice, why advertising effectiveness is down and what we can do about it, and strategies for growing challenger brands.

One of the most interesting conversations took place on day one, when Advertising Association president Andria Vidler sat down with the EMEA CEOs of three of the largest holding groups to ask them how their agency models are changing.

Dan Clays is CEO EMEA at Omnicom Media; Annette Male is CEO Northern Europe at Dentsu; and Michael Karg is CEO EMEA at WPP Media.

Amid public tiffs over pitching standards, consolidation within holding groups and questions over principal media, the trio spoke about what sets their businesses apart and indie competitors.

Listen here.


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