GroupM has piloted a comprehensive employee training and education program focused on retail media and ecommerce services that the company is now rolling out globally.   

In what the company called a first, GroupM developed the effort with over 15 top retailers, media and tech partners including Amazon, Criteo and Kroger as well as commerce education company Firstmovr.   

GroupM said the program certifications will “upskill” GroupM’s 12,000 cross-channel performance experts and be available to all GroupM staffers. Some 5,000 GroupM staffers in the U.S. have been certified under the pilot program.    

The firm said the program, which offers 30 courses and market-by-market custom material, will be continuously updated by the program contributors.   

According to GroupM’s This Year Next Year 2023 Global End-of-Year Advertising Forecast, retail media is the fastest growing advertising channel worldwide and is predicted to exceed Linear TV and CTV revenues combined by 2028.