In print…
Strategy celebrates ICA prexy Rupert Brendon’s industry-shaping career
At the end of the year, Rupert Brendon will be stepping down after 11 years as president/CEO of the Institute of Communications and Advertising (ICA), and in our August issue we’ll be publishing a tribute to recognize his contributions to the Canadian advertising industry.
In addition to more than 30 years of agency experience, Brendon created the Cassies in 1993, which have become one of the most relevant and coveted awards for Canadian marketers. He also founded the National Advertising Benevolent Society (NABS) in 1983 and has been awarded two of the most prestigious awards in the advertising community – the Association of Canadian Advertisers’ Gold Medal, and NABS’s Paul Mulvihill Humanitarian Award. Please get in touch with me if you’d like to support this tribute.
CWTA and strategy team up on a mobile-made-easy guide
August also sees the second annual handbook on mobile marketing published by strategy and the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association. It’s designed to help media buyers and marketers leverage mobile in their push media. If you’d like info on these opportunities, shoot me an e-mail.
‘Til next month, keep cool, CM
Claire Macdonald, associate publisher, 416.408.2300 x263, cmacdonald@brunico.com
In the flesh…
This just in: Unilever global media director to keynote Media In Canada Forum
As industry associations debate the semantics, metrics and definitions of audience engagement, strategy zeros in on the heart of the issue, how do you get there? For the second annual Media In Canada Forum, slated for Oct. 3, we’re planning a day that will explore the art and science of engagement and what is working in the new consumer-controlled media landscape.
When we canvassed the industry asking who would be the most important people to hear from on this topic, U.K.-based Alan Rutherford, who is spearheading Unilever’s innovative media strategy, topped the list. Rutherford has been making waves saying traditional agencies are ‘struggling’ to keep up with rapid changes in media. He’s tasked internal teams with devising integrated campaigns as a way to ‘take ownership’ of the issue and ‘drive the new way of thinking and working’. Unilever’s storytelling and inventive approach for brands such as Axe and Dove have managed to engage big time, so he’s someone you should hear from.
Back by popular demand – free planning for brave brands!
Other sessions will feature case studies of campaigns that really connected with consumers and new tools for quantifying that engagement. We’ll introduce you to the rising stars and challenge them to show their media prowess by coming up with innovative integrated campaigns for real brands. Vespa’s VP marketing, Jeremy Logan, put his brand forward last year and says: ‘Working with the panel and hearing their innovative ideas was a great experience.’ Brand managers – here’s your opportunity to put the best and brightest to work for you – e-mail me to submit your brand as a guinea pig for this session.
Block the day off now, and join us to learn how to inspire, measure and achieve consumer engagement in the new ‘mediaverse.’
Hoping to see you there, MJ
Meredith Jordan, conference producer, 416.408.2300 x508, mjordan@brunico.com
