Glenlivet challenges what it means to be a dad

For Father’s Day, scotch whisky brand The Glenlivet asked generative AI to “write a whisky commercial for Father’s Day” in order to challenge the stereotypes about what it means to be a dad. 

Related: How AI would script Super Bowl ads

The resulting script, which is read aloud by fathers, father figures and their children, reflects many of the outdated stereotypes associated with fatherhood, including camping, fishing and rugged living with their sons. The participants, which included daughters and sons, then discuss how their relationships with fatherhood differ from the AI stereotypes.

“I’m glad it is AI because if it weren’t, I would fire this writer,” one daughter says at the end of the spot from CPB London. 

The Pernod Ricard brand also partnered with comedy collective Underground Overground to hold “Cocktails and Comedy: A Spirited Celebration of Modern Dads.” The one-night performance will take place June 13 in New York ahead of Father’s Day and features five comedians who each have a unique experience with fatherhood.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to Real Men Charities, an organization that positively supports fathers and father figures. 

BCW Group appoints former Google exec as CEO

WPP's BCW Group appointed Corey duBrowa as its new CEO. He was formerly the VP of global communications and public affairs at Google and Alphabet, Google’s holding company. DuBrowa succeeds Donna Imperato, who announced her retirement in January.

DuBrowa, who had been with Google and Alphabet for over five years, previously worked at Waggener Edstrom and Ketchum. In addition to leading the more than 4,000 employees at BCW, duBrowa will also oversee several other agencies within the group, including AxiCom, a specialist technology PR agency; Direct Impact, a grassroots and advocacy agency; GCI Health, a global healthcare integrated communications agency; HZ, an integrated creative agency; and Prime Policy Group, a public affairs and public policy consultancy. 

“Corey is one of the industry’s most highly regarded leaders, and I am delighted to welcome him to BCW and WPP,” WPP CEO Mark Read said in a statement. “His experience working for brands, technology companies and agencies could not be better suited to the role of leading BCW into its next chapter.”

DuBrowa will start his new role in August.

Horizon Sports & Entertainment acquires Blake Sports Group

Horizon Sports & Experiences acquired the full-service sports marketing agency Blake Sports Group. Blake Sports Group specializes in corporate consulting, event management, athlete marketing and global concierge programs, complementing HS&E’s sports marketing and media capabilities. 

Blake Sports Group Founder and CEO Dennis Blake and agency Chief Operating Officer Darren Blake join HS&E as executive VPs of talent and business development. The agency's clients include Cognizant, which holds Formula One and golf sponsorships. 

Since launching in the fall of 2022, HS&E has gained a diverse client portfolio, including the NBA, Top Rank Boxing, Learfield, PayPal, Mohegan Sun, M&T Bank and ONE Championship. Earlier this year, the company produced Pickleball Slam, the first Pickleball tournament televised on ESPN. 

Related: How Pickleball is drawing fan love and brand dollars

Laughlin Constable hires new chief strategy officer

Laughlin Constable named Katy Gajewicz its new chief strategy officer. She previously served as the executive VP, strategy at the agency, which has offices in Chicago and Milwaukee. The role had remained vacant since its previous chief strategy officer, Mark Carlson, retired in 2021.

As part of the role, Gajewicz will lead the agency’s strategic intelligence practice, as well as its brand, social, communications strategy and marketing automation offerings.

Doe Anderson wins TDECU

Texas’ largest credit union TDECU selected Louisville-based independent agency Doe Anderson as its agency of record following a review. Doe Anderson will lead brand strategy and creative campaigns to expand TDECU’s membership and markets. 

“We were impressed with Doe-Anderson’s breadth of capabilities, thoughtfulness and its creative prowess that will help us break out of the standard banking and credit union mold,” TDECU Senior VP Chief Marketing Officer Sheiludis Moyett said.

Founded in 1955, TDECU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative with more than $4.5 billion in assets and serves as the official credit union of the Houston Texans. It has strategic partnerships with both Buc-ee’s convenience stores and the University of Houston.

Just briefly

Epsilon hired Dave Peterson to the newly created role of general manager, global head of retail media. Peterson previously spent 19 years at Target, where he led the development and growth of Target’s retail media business. Prior to Target, Peterson was the director of global sales with National Car Rental and held senior product management roles at U.S. Bank and United Health Group.

Spectrum Reach, the advertising sales business of Charter Communications, appointed Known as its strategy agency of record.