Hello and welcome

Now that I have left the advertising agency world (plug here - new business called Navajotalk getting up and running), I recommend the process that is used by the world wide agency group TBWA, which is called Disruption.
Disruption is not negative, despite the way it sounds, it is a method of challenging conventions by rejecting the concept 'we've always done it that way'. It is a system that allows you see clearly that there are huge opportunities, no matter what sector you are in.
Apple use it… Continue

We are so good at shooting ourselves in the feet in Northern Ireland. Time and time again we get opportunities to show the world how we are a place to do business and then something comes up that sends out all the wrong signals. The tender for the Bangor pool is only going out now - two years after £15million was allocated towards its construction. So it's back to the diving board then.

The IOD had a tour of the Paint Hall in Titanic Quarter last week, and got a real Hollywood experience as we went on the set of the new Universal Studios picture, Your Highness. The Paint Hall is located just past the Drawing Office on Queen's Island. As you approach it it grows - and you realise that while you may have noticed it for many years, you have to go up close to see how big it really is. After donning our hard hats we were taken by Anne Quinn of NI Screen into the building. Made up of… Continue

Wearing my hat as Chair of the IPA NI Forum I hosted a wide ranging discussion on Thursday evening about the challenges facing advertising, marketing and business in general in the changing media environment, with particular emphasis on the strength of the BBC and reduction in outlets for new and existing local businesses to engage with potential customers. There is a real issue here, which is not about BBC bashing, but genuine concerns about the impact of a media organisation that has a guarant… Continue

The times they are a changing. With the expenses scandal arriving on top of the economic crisis, and the current government in disarray over a number of issues and unable to make the right decision about anything the electorate is ready to disconnect with the political process in a big way.
But at the same time there are more and more ways for people to engage directly with their representatives using Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Plaxo etc etc.
So are we at a point where we can predict that ther… Continue