Won't save advertising, says Digitas' Amy Lanzi

Digitas CEO Amy Lanzi told attendees at Cannes Lions that the company is not counting on advertising alone to drive outcomes, arguing instead for measurable business results powered by data and analytics. Speaking during an interview at the Uber Villa in the South of France, Lanzi said the traditional chief marketing officer role is effectively “done for,” while the focus should shift toward analytics-led execution. At the festival, she discussed broader industry trends including creators and AI, and referenced Publicis putting out an ad that highlighted AI’s false promises in advertising. Lanzi also contrasted platform pressure to generate more AI ads with concerns that this could threaten other companies in the industry. The conversation covered how creator-led product launches can demand operational scale, and it emphasized the evolving economics of advertising. The interview was lightly edited for clarity.