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View in Browser Happy Monday. It’s Advertising Week, and I can already feel Herald Square bottlenecking more than usual as industry execs swarm midtown for sessions and networking. A few doors down we’re hosting ADWEEK House: Advertising HQ. Make sure to stop by and say hello. Last week ended with some major leadership news at WPP, which announced that creative boss and 25-plus-year VML vet Jon Cook will step down in March. We spoke with Cook about his tenure and what’s next. Elsewhere, get ready to click add-to-cart: October Prime Day is upon us, and brands are gearing up for major promotions ahead of the holiday season. Let’s dive in. Alison Weissbrot, executive editor Must Reads 1. Jon Cook on 30 Years at VML and Handing the Agency Over to His Best Friend As he steps away from a business he’s spent the past two-plus decades building, Jon Cook feels comforted by the fact that he gets to hand the reins over to not only his longtime colleague, but close personal friend. Chris Cicchiello sat down with Cook, who reflects on his nearly three decades at VML and why he thinks the agency and WPP are positioned to succeed. Read more 2. Amazon’s October Prime Day Is the Big Holiday Test for Brands It’s Prime Day… again! Amazon’s fall sales bonanza kicks off tomorrow, and many brands are treating it as the dress rehearsal for the big e-commerce show: the holidays. Adobe predicts October Prime Day could drive $9.9 billion in spending this week, as competitors like Target and Walmart also push out their own discounts to cash in on the shopping frenzy. Read more 3. Three NFL Wives Who Sacked the Stereotype and Ran Their Own Brand Plays In the age of the influencer, anyone can be a celebrity—even the significant others of pro athletes. No one has proven that quite like the WAGS (wives and girlfriends) of the NFL. Robert Klara takes a look at how Kylie Kelce, Olivia Culpo, and Kristin Juszczyk have surpassed influencer status and catapulted into entrepreneurship. Read more 4. Walmart+ Is Growing Faster Than Ever as the Retailer Loads on More Perks Walmart+, the retailer's subscription offering bundling everything from free delivery and same-day shipping to streaming content and gas discounts, is becoming a valuable growth engine for the retailer alongside advertising, Mitchell Parton reports. Walmart+ grew revenues 17% in Q2 and added more benefits to its network while keeping prices consistent for consumers. Read more 5. ADWEEK Creativity Advantage: Building Fandoms Needs a Different Playbook As companies like Mattel and Gap move from reaching shoppers to building fandoms, brands are starting to operate more like entertainment and media companies. That means moving away from interruptive advertising spots to work that aims to engage and entertain. In turn, the skills needed are shifting, as well as the leadership, organizational structure, and measurement playbook that marketers have long established, reports Brittaney Kiefer. Read more The Round Up Amex is turning Harry Styles fandom into a membership perk, (ADWEEK) Asics enlists Sigourney Weaver to document habits of the couch-bound human, (ADWEEK). With Google’s adtech stack intact, will The Trade Desk lose its punch? (ADWEEK). Nike shares tumble after weak revenue outlook and layoff plans underway, (CNBC). Dutch Bros Coffee, known for drive-throughs, wants to cater to walkers, (WSJ). Evening news ratings, (ADWEEK) and September cable news ratings, (ADWEEK). Lady Gaga’s Haus Labs apologizes for bronzer backlash, (Cosmetics Business). Know exactly who you are, ft. Snap CMO Grace Kao, (ADWEEK). Now we’re all starting to talk like AI chatbots too, (WSJ) Why human judgment still matters in the age of agentic AI, (Brandshare from Treasure AI). Read more Revolving Door Jon Cook steps down as VML and WPP Creative boss, Eric Campbell to succeed, (ADWEEK). That's all for today, we'll be back tomorrow! Unsubscribe Subscribe You're subscribed to as you@exa