May 19, 2026

MadConnect CEO Bob Walczak on the Publicis-LiveRamp Deal and the Future of Adtech M&A

MadConnect CEO Bob Walczak on the Publicis-LiveRamp Deal and the Future of Adtech M&A
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MadConnect CEO Bob Walczak joins Eric Franchi and Joe Zappa to break down why Publicis’ acquisition of LiveRamp is one of the most important adtech deals in years and what it reveals about the future of the industry. They discuss why connectivity and interoperability have become so strategically valuable, why Publicis made such an aggressive move from a position of strength, and what this deal says about the growing pressure on holdcos to own more of the advertising stack. The conversation also explores whether this signals a broader acceleration of adtech M&A and what the other holdcos may do next.