IBM has appointed Stagwell as its global lead creative partner following a competitive review. Anomaly will manage the account in tandem with fellow Stagwell shop Code and Theory from August 2026. Code and Theory and Anomaly will take over the "Let's create smarter business" brand platform, which was launched last year by Ogilvy. Michael Treff, CEO of Code and Theory, told Campaign that clients are increasingly prioritising execution speed without adding agency layers."The world's largest enterprises are increasingly looking for partners who can help them move faster across geographies without creating new layers of complexity," Treff said, adding the agency aims to use Stagwell's AI-powered system The Machine to "deliver greater impact at scale".Campaign learned in March that Ogilvy was no longer IBM's creative agency of record after 32 years of partnership, following the agency's decision not to participate in IBM's creative RFP. Ogilvy had been the incumbent since 1994, when IBM consolidated its $500m advertising account. In March Campaign reported that IBM was listed as a retained client in Ogilvy Group UK's latest School Report but it was understood the agency had not done any work for the brand since 2024.Mark Penn, chairman and CEO, Stagwell, said: "What this moment demands is creative force and operational precision simultaneously, at the speed the market now requires. The convergence of the C-Suite is where this partnership lives, and that's where IBM will win."Jonathan Adashek, senior vice-president marketing and communications at IBM said: "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." Campaign reported in April that IBM had awarded its global media account to Omnicom following a competitive review. The account's remit spans the Americas, EMEA, and APAC including Japan. Incumbent WPP Media did not defend the business.A version of this article first appeared on Campaign Asia