by Johanna McDowell (@jomcdowell) NEW YORK CITY: Since I arrived in New York on Saturday, 3 October 2015, further additions have been made to the agenda for the latest AdForum Worldwide Summit. On Day 1, we’ll be visiting with eight agencies — this has to be a record!
I wonder if this is a sign of the times: increasingly competitive, with the role of the intermediary or pitch consultant becoming more and more important and necessary in terms of helping clients navigate their way through the complexities of the marketing communications choices? Is it perhaps also that with economic uncertainty still prevailing — signs of recovery, then dips then ups — that agencies just want to be certain of their own positioning and marketing?
The group of pitch consultants is very formidable, key influencers in their own markets, and some of them globally. I will be finding out more directly from them during the next few days as well so that we may compare notes and also listen to what they are saying about their own markets plus what their clients might be saying about Africa. Which is still a highly attractive destination on many levels.
Monday 5 October
- 8–8.30am: Opening Meeting @High Line Hotel, 180 10th Ave
- 9am–10.45 am: Mark Read, global CEO, Wunderman @3 Columbus Circle
- 11.30am–1.15pm: Andrew Robertson, CEO, BBDO Worldwide @1285 6th Ave (Lunch)
- 1.45pm–2.15pm: Gene Liebel, co-founder, Work&Co @High Line Hotel
- 15pm–2.45pm: Erica Horvath, creative director and founder, Fancy @High Line Hotel
- 3pm–4pm: Jack Myers, cChairman MyersBizNet @High Line Hotel
- 15pm–4.45pm: Rob Thorsen, managing director, Big Spaceship @High Line Hotel
- 4.45pm–5.15pm: Anouk Papers, co-founder, Cool Brands @High line Hotel
- 6pm: Michael Kim, Global COO, Cheil Worldwide @112 W 20th Street
- + Dinner hosted by Cheil Worldwide
Tuesday 6 October
- 30am–9.30am: Andrew Bruce, CEO, Publicis Northamerica @1675 Broadway
- 10am–11am: David Jones, founder, You & Mr Jones @The Rainbow room, 49 W 49th Street
- 11.30am–1.30pm: Darin Brown, CEO, EMEA, Possible @175 Varick Street (Lunch)
- 1.45pm–2.45pm: Matt Williams, CEO, The Martin Agency @71 5th Ave
- 3.30pm–4.15pm: Domenico Vitale, chief idea architect, PI&C @250 Lafayette Street
- 5.30pm: Nick Brien, CEO, iCrossing, president Hearst Marketing Services @ 300 W 57th St
- + Dinner hosted by iCrossing
Wednesday 7 October
- 9am–10.45am: Alex Leikikh, Global CEO, Mullen Lowe Group @388 Park Ave South
- 11.15am–1pm: Gustavo Martinez, Worldwide Chairman & CEO J. Walter Thompson, Daniel Khabie, global CEO, Mirum @466 Lexington Ave (Lunch)
- 1.30pm–2.15pm: Juan Bonilla, new business development, Walton Isaacson @tbd
- 2.15pm–6.30pm: Free Afternoon.
- 7 pm: Guy Hayward, Global CEO, KBS+ @160 Varick Street
- + Dinner hosted by KBS+
Thursday 8 October
- 9am–10.45am: Gaston Legorburu, global CCO, SapientNitro @40 Fulton Street
- 11.30am–12.45pm: Herwig Preis, founder and CEO, SelectNY @401 Broadway (Lunch)
- 1.15pm–2.30pm: Mark O’Brien, president and CEO NA, DDB Worldwide @437 Madison Ave
- 4pm–6pm: Moray McLennan, worldwide CEO, M&C Saatchi @SS+K, 18 Pine Street
- 6.30pm: Adforum Cocktails & Dinner @City Hall 131 Duane Street
Friday 9 October
- 9.30am–10.45am: Troy Ruhanen, president and CEO, TBWA\Worldwide @Mad & 51th Street
- 11.30am–1.30pm: Michael Roth, chairman and CEO of Interpublic @6th Ave & 42th Street (Lunch)
- 2pm–3.15pm: Closing Meeting @6th Ave & 42th Street
More tomorrow!
Best
Johanna
@jomcdowell @agencyselection
#adforumsummit
Johanna McDowell (@jomcdowell) is managing director of the Independent Agency Search and Selection Company (IAS), which stands at the forefront of the complex world of agency selection in South Africa, and she is one of the few experts driving this mediation and advisory service in SA and globally. Twice a year she attends AdForum Worldwide Summits as an international consultant, which helps her lead the SA advertising industry forward to keep in line with international trends and remain competitive.
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