AAR Core Level Seminar Programme 2024: Winning Continuously with Vicky Gillan and Tony Spong

Introduction 

Clients are facing relentless internal and external challenges, from efficiency and effectiveness, market disruption and challenger brands which means clients need top advice, great strategy, and transformative ideas now more than ever.  

The implications for retention plans have been further compounded by a slowing new biz market, changing working behaviours, growing maturity of in-house agencies not to mention what feels like constant transformation programmes! All of which makes getting time with clients even harder and trickier than ever. And yet, it’s crucial if agencies want productive, meaningful dialogue that delivers long term mutual success.  

Now is the time to openly examine the ways you, as an agency, discuss, deliver, reward and elevate retention. It should be as important in all the same ways as new business is.  

Hear from two of AAR’s most experienced consultants, with different perspectives on the challenges and opportunities presented at the different life stages of a client/agency relationship, in our exclusive October seminar. 

Seminar overview 

In this interactive seminar we will explore: 

• Setting up the challenge from a client and agency perspective 

• Unpacking key themes, myths and some hard truths ​ 

• Talking client/agency lifecycles and exploring the “itch” moment timeline 

• Recognising when to reset – and why a retaining mindset starts from Day 1 ​ 

• Insights from AAR research across the different life stages of client/agency relationships​ 

• Informing the shape and format of your “growth” strategies  

Benefits 

• Understand the changes in client behaviour, and how you need to adapt  

• Explore and share ideas and issues of the day with your peer group 

• Gain useful insight to help shape your retention strategies across your client ecosystem   

Who should attend? 

All those responsible for managing and developing client working relationships e.g., Client Service Directors, Board and Group Account Directors, Managing Partners from all agency disciplines, independent and networks. 

About the presenters 

Vicky Gillan  

Vicky is Lead Consultant for Relationship Management at AAR and works across all sectors with heritage brands and scale ups including ASOS, Co-op, BHF, HiBob, Kerry Dairy, Pay.UK, ITV, NatWest, Netflix N Brown, Sage, Santander, Travelport. Vicky brings a wealth of client experience from a variety of sectors including FMCG, media & financial services, having worked client side with agencies from all disciplines and all shapes and sizes for over 20 years before joining AAR. Vicky works with clients, agencies and in-house teams across all categories, all disciplines, UK and global, B2C and B2B. specifically around upskill and capability programmes, reviewing and diagnosing client/agency performance, ways of working, transformation and re-set initiatives. 

Tony Spong 

Tony is Lead Consultant for Brand Strategy at AAR working with both clients and agencies. With an in-depth understanding of marketing and marketing communications having worked both sides of the fence he consults on a wide range of topics, from innovation and brand strategy to production and design. He is able to put vital context around business challenges and provides critical insights to help agencies compete more effectively. 

He also runs the AAR agency seminar programme, ensuring it stays fresh and relevant to the shifting sands of our industry. He has judged many awards over the years and supported various trade bodies. Most recently he was invited to Chair the DMA Creative Committee. 

Running this session online

We will be running one session only from 10am to 12.30pm on Wednesday 16 October 2024 via Zoom. If you or a colleague would like to participate, please do email us with name, job title, agency and email address on events@aargroup.co.uk and we’ll be sure to send you the Zoom conference details. We cannot process bookings without those details!

NB: AAR seminars are exclusive to AAR subscribing agencies only. A maximum of FIVE places per agency for our remote sessions, please.