This week's marketing winners, losers and newsmakers.

Winners

WeightWatchers: The company is capitalizing on the Ozempic craze by acquiring Sequence, a telehealth platform that provides popular medications for diabetes. Such drugs are now being used for weight loss, as scores of consumers clamor for the appetite-suppressant Ozempic, which in some instances has created a shortage for those with legitimate prescriptions. As a result of its announcement, WeightWatchers’ stock surged 79% on Tuesday.

Ford: The automaker found an ingenious way to highlight women’s contributions to the auto industry by announcing a Ford Explorer “Men’s Only Edition.” Turns out it is missing critical components, including turn signals and windshield wipers, that women played a critical role in creating. WPP agencies were behind the effort.

See how other brands celebrated International Women’s Day 2023.

March Madness: CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery are on pace for record ad sales for the NCAA men’s tourney, reports Sportico. Action begins Tuesday with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio.

Losers

Instant Brands: The owner of kitchen products brand Pyrex attracted the ire of the Federal Trade Commission this week for false “Made in USA” messaging. In a final ruling this week, Instant is required to pay a monetary fine.

Minnesota Wild: The NHL team came under fire after players did not wear Pride-themed jerseys during warmups, after promoting the jerseys earlier in the week. The move resulted in social media backlash against the team. The New York Rangers had a similar situation earlier this year when players also did not wear pride-themed jerseys during a promoted “Pride Night” despite plans to do so. In response to this week’s criticism, the Wild posted a statement that they are celebrating Pride Night “in many ways.”

TikTok: The Gen Z favorite remains in the political hot seat. Early this week, a group of U.S. senators announced bipartisan legislation that would give President Joe Biden more power to ban TikTok nationwide as politicians remain less enamored of the social media site than the marketers pouring dollars into it.

Tweet of the week

Number of the week

56%: Percentage of parents of Gen Alpha kids—the group born beginning in 2011—who reported that their children watch shopping content such as haul and unboxing videos, according to a MorningConsult survey. 

Quote of the week

“It's been a little frightening. It's like, oh my gosh, we're going to reimagine this icon that's been around forever.”—Lorraine Buck, chief marketing officer at Feld Entertainment, on rebranding Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus ahead of its first animal-free tour.

On the move

J.M. Smucker Co. hired Gail Hollander as chief marketing officer. She joins after a 20-year career at Publicis Groupe, mostly recently as president group client lead where she oversaw the Smucker account.

Diptyque hired Jessie Dawes as chief marketing officer, Americas, a newly created position for the candle and fragrance brand. She had been VP of integrated marketing strategy and consumer engagement for the Shiseido and Clé de Peau Beauté brands at Shiseido Americas.

Home services app Thumbtack appointed Everett Butler as VP of marketing. He had been VP of growth and product marketing at Affirm.

Bacardi hired Roberto Ramirez Laverde as global senior VP. He was most recently senior VP of marketing and communications at Mastercard in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Dolphin Entertainment hired Ellie Doty as chief marketing officer. She had been working as a fractional chief marketing officer and consultant after working as CMO of Burger King from 2020 to 2022.

Patreon, a membership-based provider of creator tools, announced the hire of Rory Brown as chief brand officer. He had been group VP of content and media at Lovevery. The company also hired Kathleen Pacini as chief people officer. She was most recently leading the global HR business partner and talent learning teams at Twitter.

Mindbodygreen, a wellness-focused media brand, hired Jason Schulweis as chief revenue officer. He had been executive VP of brand partnerships and creative studio at Morning Brew.