Purpose-Led Branding: NUS marketing professor Dr. Prem Shamdasani told Sri Lanka’s business leaders that “purpose” is now a competitiveness driver, pushing brands to move from product/reputation to purpose across operations. Media Planning Shift: Publicis Groupe ANZ’s Imogen Hewitt says clients want agencies to build full “growth systems” linking data, tech, creativity, commerce and measurement—not just media plans. Cost-Cutting in Advertising: Dentsu is widening cost cuts and slowing the turnaround of loss-making international markets, with a new push to cut global HQ costs ~30%. Audience Intelligence Launch: Bench Media rolled out Bench Lens to turn customer/category/market data into clearer media and strategy decisions amid dashboard overload. Outdoor Ad Market Update: oOh!media reported subdued first-half revenue but expects advertising to strengthen into December, with momentum improving and a takeover by I Squared in motion. PR Industry Move: Supermassive co-founder Simone Gupta has left the agency she launched in 2023, after work including the Crime Interrupted podcast and the 36 Months campaign. AI Search Branding: Somantra found that adding a single word (like “cheapest” or “safest”) can significantly change how ChatGPT describes a brand. Data Breach Alerts: Class-action firms are investigating breaches at Lone Star Community Health Center/Aesto Health and Baylor Genetics. Regulation & Ads: Platforms faced tough questions over under-16 access and enforcement gaps as lawmakers press for tighter controls.