September 25, 2026
Marta Samper, International Partnerships Director at Omnicom Media, took home the 2026 World Media Award for Rising Star last night at the annual awards ceremony in London. The award recognises emerging talent in international media who are already making a difference to the creativity, impact and effectiveness of international content-led advertising strategies.
Samper was selected for the way she has moved Jaguar Land Rover beyond the traditional model where media is bought and value stops at delivery, into collaborations that create new value through deeper connections between brands and partners.
Unlocking high-value collaborations
As one client partner put it, Samper brings “innovative thinking to how we invest media budgets, unlocking high-value collaborations without additional spend.” This approach has already delivered £3 million in broadcast production savings and global media distribution.
“Marta represents exactly the kind of talent our industry needs more of. She’s shown, early in her career, an instinct for building media partnerships that go beyond the transactional, understanding a partner’s culture as deeply as the commercial opportunity, and using that to unlock value that wouldn’t otherwise exist.,” said Jamie Credland, CEO, World Media Group. “That’s a rare skill at any stage of a career, let alone this early in one. The Rising Star Award exists to identify exactly this kind of talent, the people who will shape how brands and media partners work together for the next decade, and Marta is a brilliant example of that future.”
Samper said, “Winning the Rising Star Award for my work in partnerships is a strong signal of how much this discipline now matters. It also means the invisible part of the work is being seen. It starts long before anything goes live: stress-testing an idea against the strategy, then asking honestly whether the audience is there and will care.
Only then does it become creative, then commercial, always with an eye on value the client didn’t expect. I’ve been lucky to see that through to execution, whether it’s a docuseries broadcasted globally or an intimate dinner with world leaders. As brands discovery fragments in the AI era, partnerships built with that level of care will only become more essential. Having this approach validated by peers across the industry is it’s an incredible feeling.”
Partnerships that never feel transactional
With Monocle, Samper moved far beyond a standard media collaboration. By deeply understanding Monocle’s editorial tone, mechanics and culture, she helped shape a partnership that partners describe as “never feeling transactional’, acting as a trusted conduit between client and publisher to keep both brands balanced, creatively aligned and commercially sound.
At one Range Rover x Monocle event, she went further still, personally securing elite sales enquiries for seven Range Rovers, leading real-time social posting and stepping in to produce the podcasts herself.
Finding the human stories behind Dakar desert racing
With Warner Bros. Discovery, Samper took Defender deep into the human stories behind Dakar desert racing and out to millions of viewers worldwide. She shaped the partnership from initial strategy through to execution. Under significant time pressure, her consultative approach enabled what partners called a “direct and efficient working relationship”. She also coordinated incremental investment from local markets, a clear demonstration of commercial and operational understanding.
Across both partnerships, Samper has become what clients and partners described as “the trusted source and partner,” globally and locally, known for knowing when to lead and when to step back.
Partnerships that work harder than the money behind them
“What drives me most in international media is the belief that partnerships should work harder than the money behind them,” said Samper. “I’m motivated by bringing people together across brands, markets and disciplines, and finding smarter ways to unlock value through collaboration. Working at the intersection of media, culture and creativity, particularly in the luxury space, is where the most interesting challenges live.
“I’m really curious and enjoy taking time to understand how partners operate, what motivates them, and how ideas can be shaped to feel genuinely valuable. That usually means pushing beyond obvious routes and thinking differently about how existing investment can be used.
“I’m also driven by impact. Whether it’s delivering efficiencies, creating something new, or helping teams work better together, I care deeply about making a tangible difference and being someone others can trust, especially under pressure.
About The World Media Group
The World Media Group is a strategic alliance of leading international media organisations that connects brands with highly engaged, influential audiences in the context of trusted and renowned journalism. Its members include BBC News, Business Insider, CNBC, CNN International, The Economist, Forbes, Fortune, National Geographic, The New York Times Company, Reuters, TIME, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, associate member The Atlantic, and partners Brand Metrics, Bridged and Dianomi. To find out more about the World Media Group, please visit www.world-media-group.com.