DDB North America CEO Wendy Clark: ‘We’re better together’
Eleven months ago, Coca-Cola marketing exec Wendy Clark was brought on as president and CEO of DDB North America to breathe new life into the 66-year-old shop. Since day one, the brand marketing vet has focused on one thing in revitalizing the sleeping Madison Avenue giant: Retaining the talented, diverse people who create the campaigns that DDB has been known for since it opened its doors.
Talent retention is a top issue at many agencies, with lack of diversity, lack of mentorship and the rising costs of doing business all posing challenges. But onstage at the Digiday Agency Summit, Clark was adamant that improving how agencies approach people and leadership would go a long way in solving these issues. “The only way to do amazing, incredible work is to realize we’re better together.”
Listen to Wendy Clark at the Digiday Agency Summit in Phoenix, Arizona in the Digiday Live episode above. Get more insight into how agencies are adjusting to new ways of doing business by listening to more Digiday Live episodes below:
Agencies are expected to do more with the same or fewer resources: GroupM’s chief innovation officer Cary Tilds spoke about how people and processes can help agencies execute on innovative strategies despite these restrictions.
“Big data is like teenage sex. Everybody says they’re doing it, but they’re not.” In this rapid-fire edition of Pardon the Interruption, Doner’s svp of social engagement Marcus Collins sounds off on industry buzzwords that have clouded agencies’ abilities to deliver good work and do right by their clients.
“We invest in others’ ideas, not our own,” said Bullish CEO Mike Duda. Instead of creating, for example, ten print ads for a client, Bullish adopts a VC mindset. In this session, Duda describes the agency’s pay-for-performance compensation model and how it advises clients for success.
Keep up with the best sessions from Digiday events by subscribing to Digiday Live on iTunes or Stitcher.
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