News | June 29th 2026

IBM Selects Stagwell as Lead Creative Partner

Stagwell’s cross-network model offers the creative ambition and marketing capabilities an enterprise technology provider demands.

IBM today appointed Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), the global challenger network transforming marketing through AI, as its lead creative partner. Stagwell’s Code and Theory and Anomaly will work together as a single, unified creative force, together providing world-class brand and campaign creativity.

Working alongside IBM, Code and Theory and Anomaly will help evolve the “Let’s Create Smarter Business” campaign across channels and geographies. Stagwell’s technology-forward operating model ensures the creative work stays connected, consistent and moving at the speed IBM’s business demands.

Jonathan Adashek, SVP Marketing and Communications at IBM: “At IBM, we believe that innovation happens at the intersection of human ingenuity and technological capability. Code and Theory and Anomaly bring the creative and strategic strength we need, along with modern tools and an operating approach that will help us move faster, work smarter and deliver more connected experiences.”

Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO of Stagwell: “What this moment demands is creative force and operational precision simultaneously, at the speed the market now requires. Code and Theory and Anomaly bring the full range of what that takes, and operating as one team, under one accountability structure, they will deliver it. The convergence of the C-Suite is where this partnership lives, and that’s where IBM will win.”

Stagwell’s first work with IBM is expected in August 2026.

--

Want to learn more? Get in touch.

Recent Work

Says a Lot —

Latest

News — 

The Drum | Mom jeans and synth-y soundtracks: why AI brands are getting all nostalgic

News — 

Exchange4Media | IBM picks Stagwell as Lead Creative Partner

News — 

The Drum | What makes a great marketing mascot?

News — 

Marketing Interactive | Stagwell lands IBM creative as 32-year Ogilvy era ends

News — 

O'Dwyer's PR News | Accounts in Transit: IBM Makes Stagwell Creative Lead

News — 

Yahoo! Finance | IBM Picks Stagwell as Creative Partner

News — 

Content Grip | IBM selects Stagwell as lead creative partner for global campaigns

News — 

Marketing Edge | IBM names Stagwell as new creative partner

We Are a Technology-First Creative Agency

What We Do

Code and Theory is a strategically driven, digital-first agency that lives at the intersection of creativity and technology. We solve consumer and business problems with end-to-end solutions that flex to meet the needs of today’s ever-changing digital landscape.

Our Services

We provide a range of offerings built to support the entire ecosystem.

  • Data, Analytics and Research

    Our data-driven approach enables us to understand every aspect of end-to-end consumer journeys, and powers our work from start to finish.

  • Business & Organizational Consulting

    We work with our clients not only to define and deliver products, services and communications, but also to design the business itself.

  • Transformational Technology

    We help our clients reinvent their technical infrastructure and roadmap in order to deliver for the needs of today and tomorrow.

  • Services, Platforms & Products

    We create best-in-class platforms built around both the user and the business goals, often extending into connected physical expressions.

  • Integrated Marketing

    We deliver the right messages to new and existing customers across the entire ecosystem.

Our Offices

We have locations around the world.

Join Our Team

We're not typical, and neither are you. We're always looking to hire smart, interesting and forward-thinking people.
See All Open Positions

    Careers at

    Code and Theory

    We're not typical, and neither are you. We're always seeking smart, interesting, and forward-thinking people.