Welcome to The Refresh, a weekly newsletter from AdTechGod and Marketecture. Every Thursday we’ll bring you the latest advertising news, commentary, and memes.

• Purpose Worldwide appoints Hollis Guerra as President and names Louis Jones, Jeff Hirsch and Molly Wood to Advisory Board (Purpose North America)

• Havas is acquiring Retail Media Agency Channel Bakers (Adweek)

• Warner Bros. Discovery chooses internal team to lead ad sales (Variety)

• RetailMeNot sued by creators over alleged malpractice (HelloPartner)

• Google forecasts $75B in expenditures as AI investments balloon (Adweek)

• Canada’s StackAdapt snaps up $235M for its AI-based DSP (TechCrunch)

The Refresh Podcast: Vitaly Pecherskiy on StackAdapt’s Future and $235M Funding

I sat down with Vitaly Pecherskiy, CEO of StackAdapt, to discuss the company’s journey, culture, and recent $235 million investment from the Teachers Venture Growth Fund.

Vitaly shared how StackAdapt, once a scrappy startup, has grown into a leading demand-side platform by focusing on solutions, automation, and user experience. He emphasized the company’s commitment to AI-driven automation and customer-centric growth, rather than just competing within the programmatic ecosystem.

With the new funding, StackAdapt aims to accelerate R&D, expand globally, and enhance its platform, reinforcing its position as a for agencies and brands alike. Despite the hype, Vitaly insists it’s “business as usual” at StackAdapt and will be staying laser-focused on driving business outcomes for clients.

Want the full insights? Check out the full episode of The Refresh Episode now! 🎧

Tariff Turmoil: How Trump’s Trade Moves Could Shake Up Digital Ad Spend

Trump’s new tariffs on China, and potential ones on Canada and Mexico, could impact digital ad spend, particularly Meta and Google. The 10% tariffs on Chinese imports, plus the suspension of the de minimis rule (which allowed tax-free imports under $800), threaten to upend the business models of e-commerce giants like Temu and Shein. These companies have spent billions on ads, but with higher costs, they may scale back marketing.

Other industries, from automakers to consumer goods, could also feel the squeeze, leading to cutbacks in brand advertising, especially in traditional media. Analysts predict a possible 5%-15% drop in ad spend, with brands shifting toward performance marketing to offset costs. While big platforms may weather the storm, market volatility could impact consumer spending.

Read Wall Street Journal

Paramount & Nielsen Kiss and Make Up

After a four-month standoff, Paramount and Nielsen have struck a multiyear measurement deal, ensuring CBS can use Nielsen’s ratings for major events like the Grammys. Without this agreement, CBS couldn’t leverage Nielsen’s viewership data to sell ads for major broadcasts like the Golden Globes and NFL playoffs.

The deal covers all of Paramount’s platforms including CBS, cable networks, and streaming services like Paramount+ and Pluto TV while also granting access to Nielsen’s advanced audience tools and cross-media measurement.

Read Axios

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