The media world is changing fast—AI, personalization at scale, and dynamic campaign optimization are shaking things up, while the phase-out of cookies and the rise of retail media commerce and social commerce are giving brands both challenges and exciting opportunities.
CMOs aren’t just looking for partners to run campaigns—they need innovation. And that’s where DEPT® steps in.
We’ve worked with brands for many years to support their media strategy. Our creative and media practice has grown steadily and we’ve always believed we are well-positioned to help any brand drive growth thanks to our 50/50 tech and marketing capabilities.
This is why we are proud to join the ranks of the top media buyers globally according to The Forrester Wave™: Media Management Services, Q4 2024. DEPT® has been included in this Wave for the first time.
The report analyzes the 12 most significant global Media Management Services providers across 22 criteria.
In the report, Forrester notes “The collapse of the traditional marketing funnel sets brand marketing and performance marketing practices on a collision course and opens an opportunity for companies to create better marketing experiences that match consumers’ nonlinear purchase expectations and drive higher ROI.”
Evaluation summary
Forrester evaluated 12 vendors across 22 criteria grouped into three main categories: current offering, strategy, and customer feedback. DEPT® received the highest possible score in the content production criterion which we believe is in recognition of our ability to integrate media and creative resources to deliver comprehensive, next-generation creative intelligence, automation, and production to build and scale marketing content.
We also scored among the second highest in the following criteria within the Current Offering category: media planning, communications strategy, performance media, commerce media, intelligence, analytics and insights, media measurement and attribution, influencer marketing, and media responsibility. We also scored among the second highest in the following criteria within the Strategy section category: vision, partner ecosystem, talent strategy, and global delivery strategy.
In its vendor profile in the report, Forrester states “DEPT® excels at integrating content with digital media via its AI-powered content automation platform, Lightspeed” and that reference customers validate our “competency in digital buying, performance media, media intelligence and analytics, as well as savvy, proactive, tenured teams.”
“When tech, marketing, and AI come together, great things happen. We’ve been in the media management game for a long time with our proven ability to blend creative and media to achieve results, but this is a nice milestone for DEPT®. We’re rightfully standing alongside some of the biggest names in the industry, managing over $4 billion for our global clients.”
”Dimi Albers, Global CEO at DEPT®
Pioneering the future of media
While we are newcomers to the Forrester Wave, we’ve been helping shape the future of media for many years. We’ve grown significantly in the past five years, and our creative and media practice has expanded around the world. We’re not slowing down anytime soon.
Our 50/50 split in tech and marketing ensures we deliver impactful, personalized, and creative media solutions, and our strategic consulting capabilities combined with world-class creativity, media, content and data, help clients achieve bold outcomes quickly. And, as the first full-service AI-native agency, we integrate AI into all our operations.