Virgin, LEGO, Domino's: This Week's Top Five Stories

The Marketing Society Appoints Formula E CEO as Chair

The Marketing Society has appointed Jeff Dodds as its new Chair, effective from 4 August.

Jeff Dodds, the Chief Executive Officer of Formula E, is one of the biggest names in the business industry and brings over three decades of leadership experience to his new role.

Succeeding Chair Craig Inglis, who was in the role for eight years, Jeff aims to enhance the comprehension and value of marketing in the boardroom and will emphasise the importance of marketing as a catalyst for a successful business.

The Marketing Society is a non-profit organisation which globally focuses on accelerating the impact of marketing through connection, inspiration and professional growth. Since founded in 1959, it has become an increasingly reputable community and connects senior marketers worldwide.

As Chair, Jeff will be responsible for leading the board of directors, overseeing The Marketing Society’s strategic direction and retaining its strong community.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Domino's Pizza is Paying Customers to Beta Test its App

Every app you have ever used has drafted you as an unpaid tester, tapping through screens and flagging glitches for nothing. Domino's has decided to do something about that. It is putting you on the payroll.

From 3 to 30 August, the world's biggest pizza company is paying customers US$5 to beta test its redesigned website and app.

Place a digital order and you become, in the brand's own words, a "paid Domino's beta tester", with the coupon arriving the following week to knock money off your next order. "We're hiring EVERYONE," the promo video promises. "including you".

Virgin Media O2 Backs Nature Fund With Ad Budget

Virgin Media O2 is allocating a portion of its advertising budget to support nature recovery projects across the UK through the Media in Service of Nature movement.

The telecom operator joins the initiative that aims to raise £200m (US$262m) for restoration work. Media in Service of Nature was launched on World Environment Day in 2025 by Ecologi, giffgaff and MG OMD.

The movement encourages brands to fund projects that restore nature and build resilience in communities facing climate risks. The scheme supports the UK government's target to conserve and manage 30% of land and sea for nature recovery by 2030.

VMO2 has not disclosed what proportion of its marketing spend will go towards the projects. The company will announce its first funded projects later this year.

Inside LEGO and Olivia Rodrigo’s Experiential Campaign

Who doesn’t love a treasure hunt? 

In order to promote its recently announced LEGO Editions Olivia Rodrigo collection, LEGO and Olivia Rodrigo have invited fans to find one of 333 limited-edition brick-built LEGO Vinyl records, which have been hidden in record stores worldwide – using clues that will be posted to the LEGO Group and Olivia Rodrigo’s social channels. 

“When we launched the LEGO Editions Olivia Rodrigo collection, we wanted to invite fans to discover the stories, symbols and hidden details that make Olivia’s world so special,” says Julia Goldin, Chief Product & Marketing Officer at the LEGO Group. 

“The LEGO Editions x Olivia Rodrigo Vinyl Hunt takes that idea one step further, transforming the excitement of discovery into a real-world adventure that brings fans together in record stores and communities around the world.”

Channel 4 and Lloyds Reveal Black in Business Winners

Channel 4, in partnership with Lloyds, has announced the four winners of the 2026 Black in Business initiative – with winners receiving £200,000 (US$269,620) in advertising, as well as a tailored business support package.

The four winners are:

• Nala’s Baby: A family-founded skincare and haircare brand for babies and children.
• Borough 22: A bakery that focuses on people with diverse dietary needs with vegan and gluten-free products. 
• Mumbrite, powered by The Motherhood Group: A community-driven organisation providing in-person and digital support services for Black mothers and mothers-to-be. 
• Tilz Collection: A food and drink company selling gifting products and speciality food items through wholesale and online retail channels.

“A gluten-free bakery. A baby products brand. A business providing support services for Black mothers and mothers-to-be. A gifting company from Leeds,” says Amanda Murphy, CEO of Lloyds Business and Commercial Banking. “These four businesses may look very different on paper, but they all have something important in common - the ambition to grow and the determination to make a real impact. 

“Borough 22, Nala's Baby, Mumbrite, powered by The Motherhood Group, and Tilz Collection are each building something special, and it's fantastic to see them recognised through this year's Black in Business programme. By partnering with Channel 4, we're helping talented entrepreneurs reach wider audiences and unlock new opportunities for growth.”