E-commerce marketing · Industry brief

Albertsons Media Collective appointed Steve Shee, a former Walmart Connect executive, as vice president of operations and strategy, tasking him with shaping the retailer's media business and accelerating growth. The appointment coincided with the departure of Albertsons Media Collective's head Brian Monahan after just over a year in the role, with Chief Marketing Officer Emily Turner assuming interim leadership as the company consolidates internal departments. Shee, who previously headed advertising and revenue operations at Walmart Connect, will oversee the development of Albertsons' annual operating plan and three-year strategic plan aimed at cutting $1.5 billion in costs while strengthening revenue operations for advertisers and partners.

EU AI Act Article 50 transparency requirements for digital advertising are being implemented across the ad tech ecosystem. Representatives from major players including Bertelsmann, WPP, Criteo, and Google participated in an October 2026 webinar to discuss practical compliance approaches and showcase their solutions. The discussion covered implementation strategies, enforcement considerations, and the need for regulatory guidance beyond the legal text, with perspectives from ad tech, agency, and platform sides of the industry.

Kelley Drye attorneys contributed to the Chambers & Partners Advertising and Marketing 2026 USA Guide, which examines evolving compliance requirements and enforcement trends in digital marketing. The guide identifies key areas of heightened regulatory scrutiny including pricing transparency, automatic renewal laws, and fee disclosures, while covering advertising claims and disclosures, influencer and social media marketing, privacy and targeted advertising, AI-related claims, and cryptocurrency and NFT marketing. The resource addresses increasing compliance, enforcement, and litigation risks as advertising, privacy, and consumer protection requirements continue to evolve.

The Malaysian government is reviewing e-commerce regulations and enforcement mechanisms to address competition from foreign digital commerce operators. Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof announced that a Cabinet Committee on Strengthening the Purchase and Use of Local Products discussed tighter monitoring, improved coordination among ministries, and development of a proposed e-commerce bill to protect local micro, small and medium enterprises. The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry and Finance Ministry will establish a working committee to examine enforcement coordination related to foreign business entry, while the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will lead efforts to standardize the JOM MALAYSIA local products logo and strengthen implementation across campaigns. The government is also allocating RM10 million under Budget 2027 to help rural products and services reach digital platforms and overseas markets.