CMORoom News Roundup (Week of January 25, 2026)

1. Meta’s ad machine keeps accelerating while AI spend explodes

   Meta reported $59.89B in Q4 2025 revenue, including $58.14B in ad revenue (+24% YoY), and is guiding to $115B–$135B in 2026 capex—signaling even more AI-fueled changes to targeting, measurement, and creative workflows. (The Wall Street Journal / Business Insider)

2. TikTok’s U.S. ownership reset is now official—and advertisers should expect changes

   TikTok finalized a new U.S.-based joint venture structure: Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX each hold 15% stakes, with U.S./global investors owning 80.1% and ByteDance retaining 19.9%—a shift likely to impact governance, data controls, and how brands plan for platform risk. (Reuters)

3. FTC draws a bright line on “AI earnings claims” and business-opportunity marketing

   The FTC announced settlements that ban “Growth Cave” defendants from marketing/selling (or helping others market/sell) business opportunities and credit-repair programs, and specifically bars misleading representations tied to earnings claims, testimonials, and the use of AI. (FTC)

4. Disney centralizes marketing power under a new enterprise org

   Disney created a new enterprise marketing and brand organization and named Asad Ayaz Chief Marketing and Brand Officer—an uncommon move that signals tighter cross-portfolio coordination (and potentially bigger, more unified partnership planning for brands). (The Walt Disney Company)

5. Microsoft’s AI org puts marketing at the center of the AI narrative

   Microsoft AI (MAI) named Andréa Mallard Chief Marketing Officer—an executive signal that “AI story + trust + adoption” is now a top-line marketing mandate, not just a comms function. (ADWEEK)