NBA chief marketing officer Tammy Henault is leaving after three years in the role. 

She will depart at the end of September.

Henault joined the NBA in 2022 to lead global marketing for the league and its affiliates. Her goal was to “further the organization’s mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball,” she said at the time. 

Over the past few years, Henault has helped expand the NBA’s global fan base, deepen engagement and cultural relevancy, and drive digital innovation through initiatives such as the Next Gen platform. 

She developed integrated strategies across data, community, experiential, and creator marketing. She also spearheaded the NBA’s new brand identity, rolled out experiences like the NBA House, helped with launches such as the new in-season tournament, and forged partnerships including a global collaboration with UnitedMasters’ stable of music artists.

Henault oversaw lauded campaigns such as “The Gift of Game” 2023 holiday ad; 2023’s “The Heist,” which garnered nearly 500 million views globally, plus its sequel; and “Unforgettable Awaits” for the 2025 Finals, starring Mindy Kaling and Kevin Costner. 

During her tenure, the NBA broke attendance records, hitting its second-highest numbers for the 2024-2025 season following the 2023-2024 season that broke records in every category. 

Henault confirmed her departure from the NBA in a LinkedIn post on Friday, saying that she’d be taking a “power pause” to explore new opportunities.

“What an extraordinary privilege it has been to help grow and evolve one of the most iconic brands in the world–expanding our global audience, deepening fan engagement, driving digital innovation, and strengthening the NBA’s cultural impact,” Henault wrote. 

Henault declined to comment beyond the LinkedIn post.

In a statement provided to ADWEEK, the NBA confirmed Henault’s departure and said marketing will be managed by “the group’s current leadership team on an interim basis.”

According to an internal memo to staff, written by NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum and obtained by ADWEEK, that leadership team includes Janine Dugre, svp of creative services, brand, and advertising; Andy Heatley, svp of media strategy; Claisian Phillips, svp of DTC and partnerships marketing; Jenny Whitlock, svp global head of fan marketing; Jonathan Hsu, head of marketing Operations, and Dana Tarricone, vp, head of international marketing.

“During her time with the league, Tammy oversaw a number of initiatives to build awareness and viewership of NBA tentpole events, drive fan engagement across traditional and digital media platforms, and deepen our relationship with fans globally,” Tatum wrote. “We thank Tammy for her many contributions and wish her well in her future endeavors.”

Prior to the NBA, Henault was senior vice president of marketing for Paramount+, where she oversaw brand marketing, partnerships, growth, and engagement for the streaming service. Before that, she worked at The New York Times and led customer acquisition and retention for its digital subscription business. 

Editor’s note: This story was updated with a statement from the NBA, as well as and information from a memo sent to staff about Henault’s departure.

Scope3 laid off a portion of its staff last week as part of a shift into so-called agentic advertising offerings, ADWEEK has learned.

A company spokesperson confirmed the cuts, but declined to provide the number of affected staff. The company had more than 100 staffers worldwide as of last December, according to a blog post by CEO and cofounder Brian O’Kelley. 

Most impacted by the restructuring is Scope3’s commercial team, responsible for generating revenue through product sales and partnerships with brands, agencies, and adtech providers. A spokesperson confirmed that members of that team were cut last Thursday, Aug. 28.

One affected staffer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told ADWEEK that there were also several people not affected by layoffs who were “leaving on their own accord following the announcement.”

Scope3 recently expanded beyond its flagship carbon emissions data product for the adtech ecosystem and into ad verification and AI offerings. The company spokesperson said the shakeup is part of this strategic shift to establish a deeper focus on agentic advertising. 

In March, the company launched a suite of AI agent-powered products, including its Agentic Media Platform, a kind of adaptable operating system that enables organizations on either the buy- or sell-side of the aisle to build, integrate, or deploy agents that execute decisions fully autonomously at the impression level. It also released its Brand Standards product, which lets users build custom agents to make brand safety and suitability decisions, and is designed to compete with ad verification incumbents like DoubleVerify and Integral Ad Science.

Despite the recent layoffs, Scope3 is hiring in some departments, including product and engineering, areas that it believes will be critical in scaling these AI offerings. At the time of writing, the company has seven open job postings on LinkedIn across a variety of functions, including marketing, accounting, and engineering.

On the same day that it announced layoffs to employees, the firm publicly appointed a new commercial lead, Tim Collier. Collier told ADWEEK last week: “As we think about building and owning the agentic advertising category, it requires us to totally rethink how we set up the commercial structure of the business.”

One week on the job and CEO Cindy Rose is already making big moves at WPP.

On Friday (Sept. 5), the holding company announced that Ogilvy global CEO Devika Bulchandani will take on the role of chief operating officer (COO) at WPP, filling a position left vacant last week by longtime company veteran Andrew Scott.

Taking on Bulchandani’s role at Ogilvy is Laurent Ezekiel, who will also adopt the title of executive sponsor for WPP Open X, the holding company’s bespoke agency for The Coca-Cola Company. Ezekiel will be succeeded as CEO of Open X by Floriane Tripolino, global client lead at WPP overseeing the Nestlé account. 

The moves come one week into Rose’s tenure as CEO. The former Microsoft exec was appointed to the top job in July after Mark Read announced his departure in June. Her first day was Monday, Sept. 1. 

In a statement, she said the appointments “underscore WPP’s commitment to delivering unparalleled value and innovation.”

“Devika’s deep obsession with helping our clients grow and win will help us accelerate our growth across the entire WPP landscape. Laurent’s close, successful partnership with The Coca Cola Company and creation of WPP Open X gives him valuable insight and experience to help navigate the needs of our largest clients, many of which are housed in Ogilvy,” she continued. 

As COO, Bulchandani will oversee WPP’s country managers, growth teams, and client leaders to pull together bespoke solutions across the holding company for clients. 

“I truly believe that when we seamlessly bring together WPP’s world-class capabilities, we become an invincible force–one that unlocks unparalleled value for our clients,” she said in a statement.

Ezekiel will be responsible for Ogilvy’s global business across advertising, PR, social and influence, customer engagement, consulting, and health. That includes Grey, which moved from under AKQA to Ogilvy in May. 

“The future of Ogilvy is bright, and I’m thrilled to be a part of writing the next chapter of marketing history with our teams and clients,” he said in a press release.

A new era for WPP  

As Rose takes the helm, she’s under pressure to turn around WPP after a difficult few years. 

In its latest earnings report, WPP reported a revenue drop of 5.8% and announced a strategic review of the business.   

Part of that plan is ensuring ongoing strong leadership at Ogilvy, which laid off 5% of its global workforce, or roughly 700 employees, in June, as well as protecting and growing WPP’s relationship with Coca-Cola, after the holding company lost its North American media business to Publicis earlier this year. 

“These leaders embody the strategic vision and creative excellence that define WPP,” Rose said. “Their collective expertise will play a crucial part in helping me drive WPP to our next phase of growth and ensuring our clients continue to win in a rapidly evolving market.” 

Welcome back to Big Ideas, ADWEEK’s series in which we talk to the industry’s top creative minds.

This installment features John McKelvey, founder and chief creative officer of indie agency Mirimar. ADWEEK’s 2024 Breakthrough Agency of the Year is behind work including Rocket Companies’ 2025 Super Bowl ad and the global campaign for Beats Pill’s collaboration with Kim Kardashian. 

McKelvey breaks down how filmmaker Adam McKay’s approach to storytelling has inspired his work in advertising and why tonal range is a vital skill for creatives. He also opens up about what keeps him up at night about the industry. 

What’s a piece of culture outside of advertising that has inspired your work?

The Big Short directed by Adam McKay. It still holds up over a decade later.

What’s wild is that McKay is also behind Anchorman and Step Brothers, the pinnacle of silly. He made Vice and Don’t Look Up, and was the head writer on SNL for several years.

What I admire is his tonal range. He’s apparently one of the best at improv—smart, fast, quick-witted. He once said he was doing comedy improv but no one was doing dramatic improv, which opened up ways to access both sides of yourself and understand the timing for both storytelling vehicles. He’s shown how drama and comedy share so much.

I really admire someone who has a vast tonal range but is fully committed to the story they’re telling at that moment. That unlocks something in the people around him too—famously, Steve Carell.

At Mirimar, we strive for that. We don’t have a set style. We listen closely to what clients want, then come back with a solution that feels right for that moment. Tone comes later. That’s why we can move from fun, pop-silly things, like Beats’ buddy-film comedy, to the emotional Rocket Super Bowl spot about homeownership. Same team, 100% authentic in both genres. 

I admire creatives with range and encourage our teams to access all those parts of themselves. It’s about lowering the fear and letting people feel secure. When you feel secure and open, you’re not just reaching for what you’ve done before—you’re making something original and bespoke for the moment.

What’s your favorite piece of work you’ve made recently?

I’m very proud of Rocket’s “Own the Dream,” a genuinely integrated Super Bowl initiative. It was a 60-second spot about the importance of home, which led directly into a live stadium sing-along as the broadcast cut back.

What’s your favorite recent ad that someone else made?

Squarespace’s Super Bowl ad, directed by Steve Rogers and starring Barry Keoghan, was such a beautiful, restrained, funny piece. When you tap great film actors for the Super Bowl, they jump through the screen with their performance.

What keeps you up at night about your job?

This industry works better with more security in relationships. Brands get more from committed partners who can put all their energy into the work. When it’s a rotating door, it creates instability that hurts everyone.

What’s the most exciting thing about the industry right now?

I’ve always felt grateful for this job. Using imagination and creativity to make funny, beautiful, interesting things that help businesses succeed is rewarding and fun year after year.

Now we’re seeing more creatives with diverse skills and backgrounds entering the industry, especially younger talent who naturally do a range of things. That energy feels less siloed, and it’s exciting.

Steve Hayden, the visionary advertising executive behind some of the most influential campaigns of the modern era, died on Aug. 27 at the age of 78.

Hayden began his career as a copywriter at General Motors in Detroit. His career took off at Chiat/Day in the 1980s, where he partnered with Lee Clow and Brent Thomas to create Apple’s now-iconic “1984” Super Bowl ad. The cinematic spot, which launched the Macintosh computer, redefined how advertising and technology could tap into culture.

He later served as chairman and CEO of BBDO West, where he brought over and helped retain the Apple account for more than a decade, further solidifying his reputation as a creative force who could marry brand storytelling with business impact.

In 1994, Hayden became vice chairman and chief creative officer at Ogilvy, where he oversaw the consolidation of IBM’s global business, which at the time was the largest account shift in advertising history. Under his leadership, the agency launched IBM’s “e-business” campaign, a defining effort that helped reshape the brand and the category. He also guided award-winning work for American Express, Kodak, Motorola, and Dove, including the ongoing “Real Beauty” campaign.

At Ogilvy, Hayden is remembered not only as a strategist and creative visionary, but also as a mentor and collaborator. “Steve Hayden was my partner,” said Shelly Lazarus, chairman emeritus of Ogilvy. “Without him I would never have been able to do what I was able to do. Without him, Ogilvy would never have had the success that it had over so many years. Steve made it look easy. But there was brilliance behind every seemingly simple idea. And how much fun we all had together. I can’t quite believe that he’s gone. The world is a less good place. My gratitude for all that I got to share with Steve Hayden is endless. My love for him is forever.”

Colleagues across the industry echoed that sentiment. “The people that I look up to all looked up to Steve. That’s how big he was,” said Chris Beresford-Hill, global chief creative officer of BBDO. “The entire BBDO community sends condolences and love to his family.”

Bill Davaris, now co-CEO of MALKA, told ADWEEK that he spent 18 years at Ogilvy as an executive creative director under Hayden.

“Yesterday, we lost an industry giant, our dearest mentor, our biggest role model, the funniest boss, and the kindest leader,” he shared on LinkedIn. “Steve Hayden was a true legend in our work lives—someone who always made time to inspire, advocate and motivate. His contributions to the advertising world are immeasurable, some may say never repeatable. But what we’ll remember most is his generosity. May his memory be eternal—the gentle genius whose greatest love was to make us all better!”

Hayden’s influence stretched across generations of creatives. Beyond the campaigns that defined his career, his legacy endures in the people he mentored and inspired.

Born Stephen Edward Hayden on May 21, 1947, in St. Louis, Missouri, he was the son of an internist and an opera singer. He is survived by his longtime partner Kristy Allen, his family, and loved ones.

Taz Patel, head of advertising and shopping at the AI search startup Perplexity, has left the company after nine months, the startup confirmed to ADWEEK.

Patel joined Perplexity in December 2024, and was tasked with building out the 3-year-old startup’s fledgling ads business. He was previously chief revenue officer and co-founder of the influencer-marketing firm Captiv8, which was acquired by Publicis Groupe in May of this year.

Perplexity declined to comment on who, if anyone, would replace Patel. Patel did not respond to requests for comment.

“It’s been great to have Taz on our team, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” Ryan Foutty, Perplexity’s vp of business told ADWEEK in a statement. “Perplexity is driven by velocity and curiosity, so our work continues unchanged and we still partner with the world’s best marketers and merchants who want to experiment and develop the best consumer experiences for the AI age.”

ADWEEK first reported on Perplexity’s advertising ambitions in April last year. Since then, the company has brought on a handful of brands and agencies—including TurboTax, Indeed, Whole Foods, Universal McCann and PMG—to test sponsored ads on its U.S. platform.

Perplexity, which raised $100 million in July, is valued at about $18 billion. The company’s ad business reportedly generated only about $20,000 in Q4 last year, though it has also expanded into online shopping, allowing users to buy products surfaced in search through PayPal and Venmo.

CEO Aravind Srinivas said in March that Perplexity had surpassed $100 million in annualized revenue, up 25% from January. To reach new users, the company spent nearly $10 million last year—about half its payroll expenses—on sales and marketing, including its first national TV campaign during ABC’s broadcast of the 2024 NBA Finals, according to The Information. Perplexity also spent almost $5 million on legal fees.

Perplexity has also experimented with unconventional ways to reach new users, including partnering with video podcasts and streaming shows from Theo Von and Ben Shapiro to answer real-time questions.

The New York Times has warned Perplexity to stop using its content, and earlier this month Japanese publishers Nikkei and Asahi Shimbun filed a joint lawsuit making similar claims of copyright infringement. 

Perplexity this week announced plans to share 80% of revenue from Comet Plus, its browser-based subscription product, with publishers—part of its effort to secure licensing deals amid these mounting legal challenges.

Correction, August 29 at 12:25 p.m. ET: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said that The New York Times had sued Perplexity. It had warned the company of legal action in a cease-and-desist letter.

More changes are afoot at WPP, as chief operating officer and board member Andrew Scott announced on Friday (Aug. 29) he will retire at the end of the year.

Scott had been WPP’s COO since 2018, overseeing its operational structure and leading acquisitions. He joined the company in 1999 as a director of corporate development and was named to the board in 2023.

He will work with incoming CEO Cindy Rose as he transitions out of the company to become a senior advisor, supporting other senior executives and aiding in strategy execution.

“After 27 years at WPP, and at a time of transition for the business, it feels like the right moment to make this change,” Scott said in a statement. “I’ve known Cindy for a long time and worked closely with her on the board of WPP, and I’m excited for the future of WPP under her leadership. I’d also like to thank Mark and the rest of the team for all the support they’ve given me over the years.”

During his tenure at WPP, Scott was behind acquisitions including Satalia and InfoSum. He also played a crucial role in the sale of 60% of Kantar to Bain Capital and the subsequent sale of FGS Global to KKR.

“Few people have done more than Andrew to shape WPP and to drive its success over the last three decades,” outgoing WPP CEO Mark Read said in a statement. “He has been a brilliant partner to me and the wider leadership team throughout and has made a tremendous contribution to WPP in his most recent role as chief operating officer.”  

Scott’s upcoming departure is the latest personnel move on WPP’s C-suite. Read announced in June that after a seven-year tenure leading the company and a three-decade career there, he would step down on Monday, Sept. 1. He will also stay on as an advisor to support the transition through the end of the year.

Rose was announced as WPP’s next CEO in July. She was previously Microsoft’s chief operating officer for global enterprise, a position she had held since 2023, and had been a WPP board member since 2018.

This past Wednesday, she addressed staff for the first time, saying in a video obtained by ADWEEK, “You could say I’ve been a mega-fan of WPP for more than 15 years now.” She added, “I feel so privileged and inspired to work together with all of you to write WPP’s next chapter, and our next chapter will be fantastic.”

Havas Media Network has appointed Andrea Isaac as managing partner and Alessia Grosso as head of strategy and product for Havas Play North America, the division that helps brands connect with fans through gaming, creators, sports, music, and live experiences.

The newly created roles make Isaac and Grosso the first executives to lead Havas Play in North America under a new structure, which aims to position the offering at the intersection of media and creative.

Havas Play expanded from its roots in France to become a global offering in 2023, consolidating the holding company’s sports and entertainment agencies. It has had a U.S. presence since then, but the new appointments mark a relaunch—and an effort to invest more heavily in the division while expanding its services and sharpening its cultural focus.

Operating as a “cultural consultancy,” Play connects brands with fans through events, content, social campaigns, and sponsorships. It has worked with clients including Coca-Cola, Puma, Louis Vuitton, Red Bull, and Hyundai.

Isaac, who has been with Havas for more than 15 years, told ADWEEK the leadership shift follows a broader restructuring at Havas Media that has involved “consolidating and streamlining” teams across markets, investing in AI capabilities, and expanding Play’s remit at the intersection of media and creativity.

She added that Play’s immediate priorities are activating fandoms to drive business growth for clients and building new frameworks that allow it to deliver those solutions.

Grosso was brought in to “double down on each of the different specialties that we deliver via Play,” Isaac said.

A self-described “gamer-girl” who most recently led strategy and analytics for Havas Media Canada, she will focus on ensuring Play’s work engages with the full spectrum of fandoms, rather than treating them as separate groups.

“Fandom itself is really intersectional. People move fluidly between different passions and platforms. Being able to connect that to real human insight is where I’m hoping to have the greatest impact.”

Rising the ranks: ABC News has promoted Katie den Daas from vice president to senior vice president of global newsgathering. In this role, she will be responsible for overseeing multiple teams that gather, produce, and distribute content to be utilized daily across ABC News’ platforms, owned stations, and affiliates. Den Daas will also lead the strategic and editorial direction for all domestic and international newsgathering operations, including oversight of the network’s bureaus in New York, Los Angeles, and London; ABC News’ affiliate and client service, ABC NewsOne; and ABC Audio, which includes ABC Radio, podcasts, and audio entertainment. She will continue to be based at ABC News’ headquarters in New York City.

Climbing the ladder: Also being elevated is Kim Harvey, who becomes the executive producer of CBS Evening News. She replaces Guy Campanile, who has returned to the network’s Sunday newsmagazine show, 60 Minutes. Harvey was most recently its senior broadcast producer, becoming the second woman to lead CBS News’ evening newscast. “It’s a great honor to be entrusted with this role after nearly a decade working at the Evening News, beginning as a producer,” Harvey said. She is a 25-year veteran of broadcast journalism, joining CBS News in 2017.

JUST ANNOUNCED: Veteran broadcast and cable news journalist Kim Harvey has been named executive producer of the @CBSEveningNews, America’s longest-running nightly newscast. She is the second woman to helm the broadcast.https://t.co/0T0nhX8Ebs pic.twitter.com/OZTjcgansd

— CBS News PR (@CBSNewsPress) August 28, 2025

Returning Home: Vaughn Sterling is returning to CNN as the executive producer of The Source with Kaitlan Collins, based in New York. Sterling’s first stint at CNN abruptly ended in 2022, when the network’s streaming channel CNN+ was shuttered. He was its executive producer, overseeing breaking news coverage on CNN+ and Reliable Sources Daily, hosted by Brian Stelter. Sterling joined CNN as a video journalist a few days before the 9/11 attacks.

Vaughn Sterling is joining CNN as the new executive producer of The Source with Kaitlan Collins. Welcome @vplus! https://t.co/NLP0zpw68Z pic.twitter.com/EHoc8izU7b

— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) August 26, 2025

New correspondent: CNBC has named Priyanka Salve its India senior correspondent. Based in Singapore, she will be responsible for covering the subcontinent across CNBC’s platforms, as well as serve as the lead writer for its Inside India newsletter. She was most recently with India’s The Economic Times, where she was an assistant editor.