MAM
Kantar’s Link AI is now available on its market research platform
Mumbai: Data-driven analytics and brand consulting company Kantar has announced that Link AI, its AI-powered ad testing solution is now available on Kantar Marketplace, its market research platform.
Launched in June 2020, Link AI is the first fully AI-powered solution to be featured on Marketplace, said Kantar in a statement, adding that the ‘state-of-the-art creative effectiveness solution’ reliably predicts a TV ad’s in-market performance within 15 minutes and has been already used by its clients including Coca-Cola, Google, and Unilever.
The speed and scalability of Link AI make it possible to test ads for a wider range of scenarios than before. To test competitors’ ads, get feedback on early versions in the creative development process, optimise live campaigns in real-time, or build an evidence base of ad performance across a sector or market.
In 2021, more than 16,000 ads were tested in Link AI. Kantar Marketplace tested over 13,000 creative, media and brand assets and innovation concepts- up 180 per cent compared with 2020 while serving more than 700 clients including Amazon, Audi, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Johnson & Johnson, Mastercard, Samsung, Reckitt, Vodafone, among others.
Link AI was trained using Link, a normative advertising database that consists of over 230,000 survey-enabled ad tests, 10 years of data, and 35 million real human interactions.
“Link AI is a hugely exciting and innovative addition to our portfolio of agile market research solutions. It is a truly market-leading solution, facilitating ad testing at an unprecedented scale,” said Kantar Marketplace executive managing director Will Galgey. “Delivering at incredible speed, combined with the power of the industry’s deepest ad testing database, and available either as self-serve or with optional servicing from Kantar’s expert team, Link AI on Kantar Marketplace should be an indispensable part of any marketer’s toolkit. This is a huge milestone for Kantar Marketplace and for our clients.”
“We know our clients have wide-ranging needs when it comes to creative testing, which requires a mix of human and machine-based solutions. The launch of Link AI on Kantar Marketplace is a real landmark in terms of delivering insights at speed, as well as making it easier than ever to use,” added Kantar executive managing director for creative and media Jane Ostler.
MAM
Kenneth Roman, former Ogilvy CEO and ad industry veteran, passes away at 95
Longtime Ogilvy & Mather leader and David Ogilvy biographer leaves lasting legacy
NEW YORK: Kenneth Roman, the former chairman and chief executive of Ogilvy & Mather and a defining figure of Madison Avenue’s golden era, has passed away at the age of 95. He died on 22 April 2026 at his home in Manhattan.
Roman spent more than two decades at Ogilvy, joining in 1963 as an account executive and steadily rising through the ranks to lead the agency as chairman and CEO from 1985 to 1989. His tenure coincided with a pivotal period in the company’s history, including its acquisition by WPP.
Beyond the boardroom, Roman was widely respected as the definitive chronicler of the agency’s founder, David Ogilvy. His biography, The King of Madison Avenue, remains one of the most authoritative accounts of modern advertising’s evolution. He also co-authored influential titles such as How to Advertise and Writing That Works, both regarded as essential reading in the industry.
In a tribute, Ogilvy described Roman as a “quietly determined” leader and a lifelong custodian of the agency’s culture. Even after retirement, he remained closely connected to the firm, contributing articles, mentoring talent and serving as a trusted voice on its history and values.
Colleagues remember him not just for his leadership, but for his generosity and commitment to the craft of writing and storytelling. His presence at industry events and continued engagement with the Ogilvy community reflected a career that never quite slowed down.
Roman’s passing marks the end of an era for the original Madison Avenue generation. He leaves behind a legacy shaped by leadership, authorship and an enduring belief in the power of ideas and people.
