Initiative’s Post

I am beyond excited to have Zoe Mitchell join us as Chief Growth Officer. This announcement has been a long time in the making. In fact, our search for a Chief Growth Officer was a 12 month process. Myself & Motez Touqmatchi are 2 of the fussiest most particular founders you are ever likely to meet. It is fair to say this process shined a light on those personality traits. It was too important a hire to get wrong. As a business we are doubling in size YOY both in terms of income & headcount. Our network of offices has expanded from London to Miami & Dubai and each year our client roster grows to include some of the worlds most iconic brands. With all that growth, why hire a Chief Growth Officer? Well, this is a proactive rather than a reactive hire. It is about elevating what we already have and taking growth even more seriously. The creator economy continues to explode & each year specialist influencer agencies have a more pronounced seat at the table. However, whilst the services we are offering are relatively new & novel, the way in which budget decisions are being made are not. With that in mind, we wanted a CGO that understood how to appease & converse with the biggest ad-spenders in the world. Somebody that can provide a holistic POV on how budgets are being carved up and use that knowledge to make a passionate case for influencer marketing. In Zoe, we have found that person - with over a decade of experience in institutions of all shapes and sizes, from Vayner Media to Wieden & Kennedy and Wunderman Thompson. But this isn’t just about growth - 99% of the time my decisions are driven by my instincts on the human-being. After spending 10 minutes with Zoe, I knew she was the perfect cultural fit. Ambition balanced with humour & realism - we want to keep building something amazing but we also recognise we are helping to sell lipstick, not solving world peace. This cultural mindset keeps us grounded; we celebrate the wins, but we don’t deep the losses. The growth wheels are fully in motion for next year & I cannot wait to see where we take things. Welcome to the team Zoe Mitchell!! #influencermarketing #creatoreconomy #growthmarketing

This is why it is so important that we have more DEI initiatives implemented in the digital marketing and advertising world. Diverse people can bring fresh perspectives into a campaign and can help the audience feel more connected to a brand. Congrats to all of the winners and let's celebrate more DEI wins like this! #DEI #Advertising #Marketing

James Denton-Clark received one piece of advice that changed everything before starting his new role as CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi. What was it? 'There's no rush.' It's common for CEOs to be urged to make a swift, bold impact. James was no stranger to this pressure. He faced the daunting task of upholding the legacy of the audacious Saatchi brothers... This responsibility weighed heavily on him. Yet, this simple counsel transformed his perspective, lightening the burden. His strategy? 'To do nothing.' (not strictly true) He dedicated time to listen, observe, and evaluate... Contrary to popular belief, there isn't just one playbook for success. Setting his ego aside, James chose a path that resonated most with the ethos of the company he was about to lead. Facing a significant career transition? Engage in conversations, heed the advice you receive. Assess the unique dynamics of your new environment. What feels like the right approach, considering all the insights at your disposal? Hear the full life story of James on HOW I BECAME Link in comments #LeadershipInsights #CEOJourney #SaatchiAndSaatchi #BusinessWisdom #PodcastHighlights

"...in a world obsessed with fleeting trends, it’s the long-term relationships, the deep understanding of the craft, and the commitment to something bigger than ourselves, that truly leave a mark." Paige English, Initiative #Australia Head of Perth shares her experience of being in the industry for over a decade, and the impact of staying power. Read more on Campaign Brief. IPG Mediabrands APAC IPG Mediabrands #advertising #media #agency #leadership

🔑 This week we have Jessica Tamsedge, as our contributor to Booster Consulting Limited's Insights' "The Key" 🔑 Jessica Tamsedge is the CEO of Dentsu Creative UK, which includes 300 people across the 4 UK Dentsu Creative offices in the UK. 🧠 Jessica defines her role as “…bringing together the best of our brand, experience, content, influencer, social and entertainment brains to build brands for what’s next.” 🔥 Jessica is also very involved in helping the advertising and marketing industry be better, including roles with WACL (Women in Advertising & Communications Leadership ), The Women's Association, IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising), Advertising Standards Authority and Chief. ❓ What is the key to Strong Client, Agency Relationships? (in 3 words or less): ➡ ”Trust, partnership, ambition" ❓ Please expand on this (In 100 words or less): ➡ “The best client relationships start with a shared ambition. What does good look like, what might stand in our way, what are we prepared to tackle to the ground to get to better work. Trust means you can have the hard conversations, that you're talking about problems before they become briefs and that both sides will call it if the work's not good enough. Partnership means you do all of this as a team, sharing the responsibility for delivering brilliant, effective work.” ❓ What is your longest Client-Agency relationship? ➡ Waitrose & Partners: 25 years (and counting) 🎉 Dentsu Creative's 25 year relationship anniversary with Waitrose & Partners has just been celebrated and it goes from strength to strength, with them now working on content, commerce and entertainment, and having just launched "The Live Cookery School". Find out more about that here….I challenge you not to get hungry! 👩🍳 https://lnkd.in/e2dPwKHK 🔥 Thank you for sharing your great take on “The Key” 🔑 Jessica Tamsedge. Here’s to building more trust in our relationships! #trust #partnership #ambition #relationshipsmatter 🔑 “The Key”: Visit our website to see all of "The Key" insights so far https://lnkd.in/eeq_Sv7g 

Having worked for over a decade at one of WPP’s companies, I was saddened to see iconic brands like J. Walter Thompson Worldwide and Young & Rubicam Group disappear. These were more than just creative agencies; they were institutions that defined the essence of marketing and advertising. Their dissolution, in my view, weakened the foundation that once made WPP a leader in the field. It's surprising that such decisions were made by those whose role is to protect and grow their clients’ brands! While the focus on mergers and operational efficiencies may have been necessary at the time, it raises the question: Has this shift come at the expense of the qualities that once made brands choose WPP as their trusted advisors? During Sir Martin Sorrell's tenure at WPP, he often critiqued Maurice Levy's choices at Publicis. Yet, it seems that Publicis, under Levy and now Arthur Sadoun, adapted more swiftly to market evolution and embraced a vision more aligned with market expectations than WPP has managed under various leaderships. They have remained committed to preserving the vision that Publicis Groupe founder Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet instilled. Looking at Publicis's strong results, this strategic foresight appears to have positioned Publicis more favorably today. I would love to hear from those who, like me, have worked within WPP companies. What are your thoughts on whether WPP's strategic changes have been beneficial or if they've led to a loss of what once made the company exceptional? #WPP #Marketing #Advertising #brand #CreativeAgencies #BrandStrategy #Leadership #Publicis #BusinessStrategy

Some great news to kick start your Friday with! We’re excited to announce two new key appointments to KINESSO UK&I : Please welcome Deolu King as Partner, Social Media Product, and Hannah Thompson as Partner for Addressable Product! 👏 👏 👏   Reporting into KINESSO UK&I’s Managing Director for Media, Seun Odeneye, Deolu and Hannah will lead our 100+ team of Social Media experts and 100+ Addressable Planners respectively, both covering activations and strategy.   We asked our newest team members what they were planning to bring to their roles for both our brands and business:   Deolu: ‘Now, more than ever the social landscape is exciting, complex, and fragmented. With so many opportunities to drive business growth and consumer loyalty, I believe the role of the agencies is to be a strategic partner to clients, helping them navigate complex policy regulations and complicated consumer journeys. I am excited and honoured to take KINESSO’s UK&I Social team, our clients and business to new heights. Let’s go!’   Hannah: ‘I’m so thrilled to be joining KINESSO, a truly future-facing organisation committed to innovation and excellence. The focus on data and technology is at the heart of how KINESSO operates. How that encourages agility in the delivery of gold-standard addressable campaigns is what drew me to the role. With my holistic addressable experience across OOH, TV, Audio and Digital, I hope I can bring a fresh perspective to an already fantastic operation.’   We’re thrilled to have you both on board!   #Social #Addressable #Performance #Agency #Advertising #Strategy #Media

💌 Series alert! Women I Admire. 💕 Every month, I’m going to tell you about a woman who inspires me daily, who I’m in awe of, who I appreciate more than words can say (but I’ll try).       🥁 Next up…the PR legend Joy Farber Kolo. Joy is the Global Chief Brand Officer at Weber Shandwick and she was my first boss. Weber Shandwick was my first job out of college, after packing up my life and heading to NYC. It was an exhilarating yet challenging time for me and Joy was my guide.     🏆 Within the last couple of years, Joy has become a nationally recognized PR leader, earning PRWeek PR Agency Professional of the Year Award and the Female Frontier Award by Campaign US. She’s got a big job, and she achieves big success.    🌱 Joy has a knack for seeing the opportunity in complex challenges. It looks almost seamless how she can find a solution for every challenge – and that’s part of her genius. She’s always had a strong vision and knows that it takes a team of collaborators to get there. She leads by example and empowers her team to grow their skills and meet the needs of their clients with freedom and latitude.    💪 I learned so much from Joy at the beginning of my career, like how to become a strong PR professional and the attributes I wanted to emulate as a leader. As a successful leader, I felt like Joy did the following every day to create the most collaborative, successful teams:    💡 Set strategic direction.  💡 Held everyone accountable to do the right thing.  💡 Communicate effectively and often.  💡 Empower employees to be authentic.    🙏 Thank you for your friendship and mentorship, Joy! You shaped me early on into the leader I’ve become.  #WomenSupportWomen #WomenEmpowerment #WomenInBusiness #WomenInPR 

Blue Chip's CEO, Stanton Kawer, shares his insights with Ad Age about the advantages of cultivating talent within ad agencies and how nurturing internal talent can drive agency success. Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/46Y3fxk

I am thrilled to share that as I celebrate 12 incredible years at Mindshare SG, my journey continues with a new chapter as I step into the role of Business Director. Over the years, I've had the privilege of working alongside some of the most talented people in the industry, dedicated to delivering stellar work that they truly believe in; and having their contributions recognised by their clients and peers, alike. As I reflect on the past 12 years, I am grateful for the many opportunities to grow, and challenges that have strengthened my perspectives. And of course, the unwavering support of our Content+ team. This new chapter is not just a personal achievement for me, but a testament of the collaborative spirit and culture for innovation, here at Mindshare. Inspired by the many bosses I have encountered, over the years. To my ex-bosses, you might not have known this, but your impact is still felt: - Chen Sands - I came in bright-eyed and all keen to pioneer social media back then in 2012, and you welcomed me warmly into the team. - Christopher Smith - still one of my main go-to creative inspirations, where I recall the team always saying "do as Chris does". Your belief in me back then to helm SilkAir's pitch, gave me the courage to lead. - Jakeena Malli - one of the most brilliant innovators, I learnt to think and act quick on my feet; and of course that awesomely hectic HK disneyland work Trip together. #workisfun - Roxanne Vure - your wit and sardonic humour always made serious client situations, a little less intense. And those ramen/ dim sum meals...unforgettable - Laura D'Ambrosio - a sharp-shooting lead who practises agility in real-time, you have led the team by example- fleeting through projects and managing workloads. Here's a snapshot of our team Xin Hua Kon, Grace and You Sian, and to the next 12 years and beyond- let's stay awesome! #NewBeginnings #MindshareJourney #ContentMarketing #SocialMediaMarketing #Leadership #WomenInBusiness