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Allison+Partners Promotes Lisa Rosenberg to Consumer Brands President
NEW YORK: Allison+Partners has promoted Lisa Rosenberg to president of consumer brands, a newly created role.
Rosenberg is focusing on unifying the practice, nurturing and adding depth to agency talent and driving business growth across regions. She is reporting to Anne Colaiacovo, partner and president of North America, and overseeing seven staffers.
READ MORE“Consumer business is 20% of our total agency revenue and we needed someone to focus on driving growth and helping to grow our talent,” said Rosenberg.
Rosenberg was previously Allison+Partners’ chief creative officer. Her prior responsibilities have been folded into her new role.
Rosenberg has worked at the firm for seven years. Previously, she was president of North America for Havas PR, responsible for operational and business leadership of the firm. Rosenberg has also worked at Porter Novelli, Hill+Knowlton Strategies forerunner Hill & Knowlton and Ogilvy & Mather.
'In a crisis, PR is the most critical need'
Amid the COVID-19 crisis, we’ve seen brands significantly reducing or altogether halting their marketing spend, and this has naturally hurt agency partners. PR agencies are not exempted from this struggle, and issues such as reduced earnings, late payments, hiring freezes, and pay cuts have been reported. But it’s not all doom and gloom for medium-sized or larger PR networks. Jonathan Heit, global president at Allison+Partners, tells PRWeek Asia that while many businesses in hospitality and travel have been negatively impacted, he has seen expanded needs from many of the agency’s technology and corporate sectors, particularly in B2B as they face new opportunities and challenges that were impossible to forecast at the start of the year. READ MORE
Exclusive: Allison+Partners Names Jeremy Seow as APAC MD
Jeremy Seow joins the agency in a newly created role as MD of growth and innovation for APAC. Seow brings nearly 20 years of experience to the table and was most recently Singapore CEO at WE Communications. Previously, he held senior positions at Yahoo, Zeno Group, Ogilvy, and Text 100 (now known as Archetype).
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"In a way, we co-created the position," global president Jonathan Heit told PRWeek. "It was a combination of Jeremy's experience, our expanded capabilities (eg data analytics, content marketing, advisory services) as an agency and the ongoing growth as our clients scale in the region and we continue to grow. We are coming off the best year in the history of our agency, and APAC set the pace for much of that growth. This position is a natural evolution of our agency's growth and Jeremy is ideally suited to take it on."
Seow fills the gap left by APAC MD Serina Tan who departed the agency after starting Allison+Partners' Singapore office in 2014. She left to spend time with her family.
Seow's appointment is complemented by the promotion of longtime senior consultant Shen Jegathesan to vice president. Jegathesan has served as a senior advisor to the Singapore team since its early days. Both she and Seow will work closely with Heit and director Lewis Moh.
While Seow will spend time working with all the regional offices, his primary focus is Singapore-based clients and their needs both locally and in Southeast Asia.
On whether Seow and Jegathesan will be facing challenges in their new roles in the middle of a global crisis, Heit said that both of them have experienced crises before, such as SARS in 2002 and the global financial crisis of 2008, and that their experience will be of great value to the team and clients.
"From an economic standpoint, our priority is making sure that our clients are positioned for long-term success. We are incredibly nimble, and have been working around the world on programmes for clients that address everything from business continuity to video and digital product launches to replace live events," said Heit.
"Nevertheless, these are unprecedented times. The top priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of our team. This has led to us enlisting work from home policies that are not something anyone is accustomed to.
"Jeremy's onboarding has taken place entirely over video conference, as have all of our recent pitches and client meetings. Maintaining the incredible sense of community and culture that differentiates our office while folks can communicate only virtually is something the leadership in Singapore has taken on as an immediate priority."
"Empathy, Trust & Cooperation" — PR Advice Adapts To Coronavirus Crisis
Reputation Today Mighty 50
Allison+Partners ups Corporate Practice Leaders to Handle New Business
Jill Feldman (pictured) has been elevated from executive VP to MD of the corporate communications group. Hadas Streit has been upped from senior VP to executive VP and head of the agency's workplace specialty group. David Baum, also a former senior VP, has been named executive VP of corporate communications and technology. READ MORE
A Booming PR Job Market, but...
The Labor Department’s employment figures for December, released on Friday morning, paint a strong jobs picture for the past decade. Employers have created jobs for a record 10 years, the longest stretch in eight decades, although the 145,000 jobs added in December was lower than what economists had predicted. Unemployment remains at a 50-year low of 3.5%. READ MORE
Looking ahead: The agency of the future
The tremendous growth of Allison+Partners over the last 18 years was not by accident, it was by design. When my business partner Andy and I started our agency, we never set out to be the largest agency in the world. Just the best. Our vision was to become the agency of the future, one that is client and employee-driven and utilizes the latest technology to help our clients succeed. While that sounds good in theory, there were many investments made, open-door conversations and risk-taking we took early on to ensure we charted the course and continued to grow. Those investments have paid off, and this year we saw the greatest growth in our company’s history.
So, what does the agency of the future look like and how do you build it?
READ MOREBest Places to Work 2019
Location: San Francisco
Having made the Best Places to Work list for a third year in a row, Allison+Partners’ commitment to retaining its people-focused culture as it grows stands out. The firm’s turnover rate is far lower than the industry average.
Judges clearly identified it as an "agency where you can learn, grow and be recognized." From extensive learning resources to constant access to leadership, the firm provides excellent advancement opportunities.
READ MOREexchange4media unveils list of India's Top Corporate Communication Professionals
exchange4media unveiled the “Top 100 Influential Game Changers” list in an extravagant ceremony at Hotel Shangri La, New Delhi, on Thursday.
The list features the names of Top 50 PR Professionals (male and female) and 50 Corporate Communication Professionals (male and female). It is a compilation of the most influential public relations and corporate communication professionals who have changed the dynamics of the industry through their work, vision, leadership skills and clout.
READ MOREPR chief picks 5 best APAC campaigns of the past decade
The Best Job in The World by Tourism Queensland (2009)
In 2009, Tourism Queensland promoted the Great Barrier Reef as a global tourism destination with a website encouraging people worldwide to apply for The Best Job In The World, to be a "Caretaker of the Islands" to "house-sit" the islands of the Great Barrier Reef for half a year, based on Hamilton Island. The submission website crashed two days following the launch of the campaign, from excessive visits and application video uploading.
"In 2009, social media (Facebook and Twitter) had only just began to take off in the APAC region. Targeted at the early adopters, it was a clever and creative campaign combining both traditional and social. The campaign resulted in user-generated content and conversations which ultimately went viral, drawing interest from all around the world. Follow ups from the campaign continued through to Ben’s appointment – he shared regular, authentic content about his experiences at Hamilton island, continuing to engage curious wanderlusters and adventurers globally."
READ MOREPRWeek Awards US Shortlist Revealed
Skills shortages and cost concerns curbing data-driven endeavours
While many organisations are making strong progress in becoming more data-driven to improve customer engagement, most businesses still report significant barriers preventing them from getting the most out of data.
And research based on the input of 500 marketing directors in the UK and Germany conducted by marketing and communications agency Allison + Partners and entitled ‘Turning data into marketing gold’, found that many believe they will face greater obstacles in becoming more data-driven in the future.
READ MOREData siloes ‘holding marketers back’
New research reveals 98% believe future improvements are held back by data silos, justifying the cost and in-house skills shortage.
Data-driven marketing is vital for today’s marketing teams. But a new report by global marketing communications agency Allison+Partners revealed that while marketers have made progress to becoming more data-driven, nearly all respondents cited numerous barriers preventing them from getting the most out of data.
READ MOREData goldmine: Brands are just scratching the surface
That is one of the key conclusions of a new survey by marketing agency Allison+Partners, which quizzed 500 marketing directors in the UK and Germany about their data strategies. READ MORE
Marketers still have further to go on best use of data
Marketers have made considerable progress to become more data-driven, yet there remain numerous barriers preventing them from getting the most out of data, a new survey has revealed.
Allison+Partners, the global marketing communications agency, reached this conclusion after working with research firm Censuswide to poll 500 marketing directors in the UK and Germany in October.
READ MOREMAJORITY OF MARKETERS CLAIM DATA CONFIDENCE BUT HURDLES REMAIN
In a survey of 500 marketing directors ( 250 in the UK, 250 in Germany) working for companies with a revenue of over $50m, 87% believe that their department’s use of data was either somewhat or far above average, compared to similar organisations, and 89% were confident in their own ability to extract insights from data.
Despite this, almost all respondents ( 98%) agreed there will be obstacles in improvements to how data is used moving forward, and the main barrier is data being siloed across organisations, cited by 45% of respondents.
READ MOREMarketing bosses struggle to get most out of data - report
A new report by global marketing communications agency Allison+Partners has revealed that, despite the rise in data driven marketing, many are struggling to get the maximum out of their data.
The survey, which included input from 500 marketing directors in the UK and Germany, showed that, despite the vital role of data in marketing, marketers are only scratching the surface on what data-driven approaches can do.
READ MOREWhat’s Preventing Marketers Turning Data Into Gold?
Data-driven marketing is vital for today’s marketing teams. But a new report by global marketing communications agency Allison+Partners revealed that while marketers have made progress to becoming more data-driven, nearly all respondents cited numerous barriers preventing them from getting the most out of data.
The survey, which included input from 500 marketing directors in the UK and Germany, showed that:
READ MOREWhat’s Preventing Marketers Turning Data Into Gold?
Data-driven marketing is vital for today’s marketing teams. But a new report by global marketing communications agency Allison+Partners revealed that while marketers have made progress to becoming more data-driven, nearly all respondents cited numerous barriers preventing them from getting the most out of data.
The survey, which included input from 500 marketing directors in the UK and Germany, showed that:
READ MORE40 under 40 2019: Asia-Pacific's top rising talent
Our in-house judging team, made up of members of Campaign Asia-Pacific's senior editorial staff, had difficult decisions to make, but ultimately agreed that these 40 candidates stand out at the top of their class, representing Asia Pacific’s next generation of leadership.
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How Driscoll’s capitalized on a millennial drinking trend
Driscoll’s released a new line of strawberries and raspberries with a decidedly millennial twist. Instead of the traditional red color and sweet flavor profile, the berries were light pink and had notes of floral and peach.
The taste was "silky and creamy, almost like a creamsicle," said Frances Dillard, Driscoll’s senior director of brand and product marketing.
READ MOREHungry for the right reasons
Broadly speaking, most brands have come to understand that "doing good" has become a business necessity. However, consumer savvy has grown to the point where companies have to not only zero in on precisely how they "do good," but how they tell that message.
In the food and beverage space, this is particularly imperative. After all, we’re talking about products that go into people’s own and their loved ones’ bodies, so the direct impact on lives is clear. The messages that convince them to purchase these items must be spot on.
READ MOREICCO Global Awards 2019 Shortlist
Apple’s reputational crisis in China: between a rock and a hard place
Apple "had few options" but to bow to Chinese rule and pull an app that was being used by Hong Kong protestors from its store, but it must now decide whether it can survive in China in the long term, according to corporate affairs expert David Wolf.
The electronics giant last week found itself in the eye of the China-Hong Kong storm following its decision to remove two apps for reasons related to the escalating Hong Kong protests.
READ MOREBacked into a corner, Apple must now decide where its long-term allegiance lies
Influencer targeting, true purpose, humor through data…six trends from PRWeek UK Awards winners
This list of the main trends is not exhaustive, but points towards some key dynamics shaping PR campaigns in 2019.
Before we begin, I strongly recommend reading the write-ups of the winning campaigns over the coming weeks to learn more about these outstanding pieces of work.
READ MOREPRWeek UK Awards Winners 2019: Healthcare: Ethical & OTC Consumer
Tasked with building awareness of Dexcom, a firm that manufactures continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), this campaign targeted the 400,000 people in the UK living with Type 1 diabetes.
Take me back to the PRWeek 2019 winners page
Allison+Partners commissioned a study with Type 1 charity JDRF that found 76 per cent of patients complained of suffering from stress, anxiety attacks or bouts of deep depression. This led it to shift campaign focus to demonstrating how CGMs can improve welfare.
READ MOREPRWeek UK Awards 2019: last chance to see the shortlist before the big night
The expert jury panel of more than 100 leading global brands and agencies have decided which entrants are in with a chance of winning at the glitzy annual awards night, taking place at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in Park Lane.
Hope&Glory tops this year’s 34-category shortlist with 14 nominations, while last year’s big winner with six awards, Taylor Herring, has 12 nominations this year.
READ MOREHow Gen Z Impacts Urban Mobility
By Marcus GamoA short time ago, the auto industry viewed millennials as the lost generation. Automakers expected car sales to plummet and prepared for change. But that didn’t happen. Instead, millennials delayed their adoption of cars until they started getting married, having children and discovering the suburbs.
Simultaneously, the growth of the smart mobility movement with the introduction of rideshare, car share, e-bikes, high-speed rail, scooters and automaker-backed subscription models have transformed how we define transportation. This dramatic change has birthed a mobility culture. The “me” foundation of car culture – where a car takes “me,” how it makes “me” feel about myself and how it represents my values – has been replaced by a “we” perspective.
READ MORE“5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Became CEO of Allison+Partners,” With Scott Allison
“Enough money” is never actually enough. When we started the agency, it was my first job as a CEO. All the training for that role was on-the-job training. There are certainly financial challenges, and you never have enough cash when you get started. Everything seems to cost more than you think, particularly when you operate in expensive cities like London, San Francisco and New York. I specifically remember nine months into starting our business we had $4,000 in our checking account with $40,000 of payroll due the next week. The weight of that pressure was overwhelming. We had to make personal investments to make ends meet, which paid off in the long run. But I wish I had a better understanding of the financial pressures and needs from the onset.
I had the pleasure to interview Scott Allison. Scott is global chairman and CEO of one of the fastest-growing global communications firms in the industry. Known for its unique culture, Scott founded Allison+Partners with a vision to build a positive and entrepreneurial environment where talented people at all levels could do great work and thrive. Scott oversees the firm’s Global Board, while continuing to provide communications counsel to many high-profile executives and clients. He is an expert in issues management and crisis communications; presentation and media training; and is regularly called upon to speak about issues facing the public relations industry. Prior to founding Allison+Partners, Scott was the West Coast president of Connors Communications and a senior vice president and partner at The Gable Group. He is a member of the Arthur W. Page Society and serves on the advisory board for ISOThrive, The Fraternity and the Church of the Resurrection. He is a recipient of the Monty Award given to San Diego State University alumni and was a finalist for both the EY Entrepreneur of The Year® and the American Business Award’s Communications Executive of the Year. A patron of San Diego State University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies, Scott provided a founding gift to the Glen M. Broom Center for Professional Development in Public Relations and funds a scholarship that supports internship opportunities for students.
READ MOREWhat’s at Stake for Nike & Other Top Brands as the NBA’s China Controversy Continues
As months of pro-democracy protests continue in Hong Kong, American athletic brands have found themselves swept up in several debates around free speech and censorship by the Chinese government.
Most prominent is the ongoing dispute between the NBA and China, which began on Friday when Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted his support for the demonstrators, sparking outcry from Chinese officials and fans. While the tweet — which included the words, “Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong” — has since been deleted, the rift with China has only widened in the days since as the league and team have attempted to mitigate the damage without issuing an outright apology.
READ MOREBellwether Survey: C-suite dinosaurs hold back communications
PRWeek and Boston University’s Communications Bellwether Survey has quickly become the most extensive and credible snapshot of the PR industry, winning awards, garnering positive peer reviews and being featured at high-profile academic conferences.
But this year’s second edition of the survey, based on 1,633 responses from in-house, agency and other practitioners, portrays an industry frustrated at the slow pace of change in their organizations and hampered by bureaucracy. (For an in-depth look at all the data and even more content, purchase the Bellwether Premium Edition.)
READ MOREAcura targets performance-minded young drivers on Amazon, Bustle and Thrillist
Dive Brief:
- Acura unveiled a multichannel campaign aimed at younger drivers that highlights the brand's focus on high performance. "Less Talk, More Drive" will appear on network cable and national broadcast TV, including National Football League games and in top-rated programming and fall premieres on streaming video platforms, per an announcement shared with Marketing Dive.
- To reach younger consumers, Acura will include digital media programming on platforms Donut Media, PadSquad and Teads, in addition to digital placements on Amazon, Bustle, ESPN and Thrillist. The carmaker plans to support the campaign with imagery that's customized for each of its social channels.
Financial Times, HP Inc. and Critical Mass lead the Digiday Worklife Awards nominees
Financial Times, HP Inc., Critical Mass and more are nominees for the 2019 Digiday Worklife Awards, which recognize media and marketing’s top employers and the values that make them unique.
In years past, theSkimm, Bloomberg, HubSpot, RPA and New York Media were honored for their efforts to foster a collaborative culture and work-life balance among other accomplishments.
2019 SABRE Awards Asia-Pacific Winners
IN2 SABRE Award Winners, which recognize excellence in multimedia content creation, have been unveiled here. READ MORE
Shortlist for inaugural Purpose Awards revealed
PRWeek has revealed the finalists in the running for the inaugural Purpose Awards.
The shortlist reflects the best in purpose marketing, which will be on full display on October 16 at Marshall’s Landing in Chicago during the first night of the PRDecoded conference. The awards recognize activations that use creative ideas to promote positive causes and to acknowledge the organizations and individuals behind them.
READ MOREPRCA National Awards 2019 Shortlist
THE UK'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS PR AWARDS!
Why the PRCA National Awards?- Promote the industry – We’re a not-for-profit, so all the profits from our awards are invested back into our industry to help teams and individuals maximise the value they deliver to clients and organisations
- Encourage your team – Shine the limelight on your team’s fantastic work and reward every member of your team that contributed
- Make your mark – Display and celebrate your success over the last year and be recognised by the world’s largest PR association
- Expand your network – Win new business and open opportunities for new clientele by rubbing shoulders with award-winning businesses
- Gain global recognition – Be globally recognised by the PR industry, with our judging process consisting of industry-leaders from across the world.
Get Personal When Networking To Build Relationships That Pay Off
According to the National Association of Realtors, almost 80% of consumers say they would work with their agent again, yet only around 12% actually do so. There's clearly a better way to handle relationship building.
Regardless of your industry, "How much money are you leaving on the table that you could have had if only you had stayed in touch?" asks Zvi Band, author of "Success is in Your Sphere: Leverage The Power Of Relationships To Achieve Your Business Goals."
READ MOREBrands must remain silent about Hong Kong: PR chief
In the current volatile situation in mainland China and Hong Kong, brands have had to calculate their messaging and responses carefully, lest they get caught in a web of crisis comms. We’ve learnt in the last week that things could implode in a matter of minutes, and backlash can make or break a brand faster that one can say ‘tear gas’.
David Wolf, managing director, Allison Advisory at Allison+Partners, tells PRWeek Asia that this is simply the price to pay for doing business in China.
READ MOREBrands must remain silent about Hong Kong: PR chief
David Wolf, managing director, Allison Advisory for Allison+Partners, tells Campaign Asia-Pacific that this is simply the price to pay for doing business in China.
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2019 Regional PR Consultancies of the Year (Midsize)
The 2019 Asia-Pacific PR Consultancies of the Year are the result of an exhaustive research process involving more than 125 submissions and meetings with the best PR firms across the region.
Consultancy of the Year winners are announced and honoured at the 2019 Asia-Pacific SABRE Awards, which take place on 12 September in Singapore. Analysis of all Finalists and Winners can be accessed via the navigation menu to the right or below:
READ MORELuxury brands must now show they are ‘good Chinese citizens’ after T-shirt territory anger, expert says
Western luxury labels will need to demonstrate that they are good Chinese citizens in the face of territorial sensitivities, according to an expert on branding in the region.
Fashion brands including Givenchy, Coach and Versace apologized last week when some Chinese social media stars canceled their endorsement deals after text on some of their T-shirts suggested that places such as Hong Kong are separate countries from mainland China.
READ MORESABRE Awards Asia-Pacific 2019 finalists
The winners will be announced at the SABRE Awards ceremony on September 12 at the Mandarin Oriental, Singapore along with the Agencies of the Year. Tickets & tables are available here. READ MORE
Industry News In Brief (August 12, 2019)
SAN BRUNO — Allison+Partners has launched a new communications consultancy, called Headstand, to handle the firm’s conflict accounts. The consultancy has been operating for the past six months and working with clients including SAP North America, NerdWallet, SideChef, Trov and Xiaomi. READ MOREPRWeek UK Awards 2019: 'early bird' ticket deadline approaches
The annual awards night - one of the highlights of the UK PR calendar - takes place on Tuesday 15 October at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in Park Lane. Click here for more details on pricing and to book tickets.
See the full list of categories and shortlisted entries below:
READ MOREAGENCY BRIEF: A WONDROUS LAUNCH INTO SPACE AND A NEW BREAKFAST BREW
Allison & Partners enters the consulting gameMDC Partners’ Allison & Partners is opening up the doors to its own consultancy. Named Headstand, which the agency says has been operating “in stealth mode” for the past six months, the consultancy works with both Allison & Partner’s clients and its own. Headstand is led by 12-year veteran of the agency, Zach Colvin, who becomes president to oversee the firm’s business development and organic-growth efforts. Stacey Johnes is general manager of Headstand, tasked with supporting financial oversight, staffing and brand development. READ MORE
Allison+Partners Launches Headstand to Take on Conflicts and Provide Deeper Levels of Agency-Client Collaboration
Allison+Partners announced the launch of Headstand, an integrated communications consultancy. Born from the stellar client service and award-winning work that has fueled Allison+Partners’ 18 years of growth, Headstand was created to alleviate potential conflicts and to meet the demand for the way today’s clients want to partner with agencies. Headstand will focus on operating as an extension of client teams, providing greater flexibility within the traditional scope of work and offering custom approaches to client challenges. READ MOREPRWeek UK Awards 2019: shortlist revealed
The expert jury panel of more than 100 leading global brands and agencies have decided which entrants are in with a chance of winning at the glitzy annual awards night on Tuesday 15 October at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in Park Lane.
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News of Firms: Allison+Partners Does Headstand; Worldcom Adds MC Comunicaciones of Quito to Club; Public Relations Boutiques International Names Amanda Foley of Kiterocket President
Allison+Partners has launched Headstand, an integrated communications consultancy. The new consultancy is positioned to handle Allison+Partners’ conflict accounts as well as its own book of business. It offers a range of integrated marketing services that includes creative campaign development and execution, brand identity and messaging development, content development, influencer relations, media relations, social engagement and digital programs. Headstand will be led by 12-year Allison+Partners veteran Zach Colvin, who assumes the role of president and will oversee the firm’s business development and organic growth efforts. Stacey Johnes will serve as general manager. Prior to Headstand, Johnes was senior vice president, client service at Allison+Partners, working with consumer brands across multiple industries. Operating in stealth mode for the past six months. Headstand is already working with such clients as SAP North America, NerdWallet, SideChef, Trov and Xiaomi. READ MOREThe Stream
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