The communications world has changed. Digitalisation has made it easier for audiences to shut brands out of the picture. Most agencies are recognising this: but at Vizeum we believe that unless we Start From a Different Place, we will fail to translate this understanding into action.
The tried-and-trusted brand strategies no longer work; new problems demand new solutions. Rather than thinking, “what does the brand want to say?” we begin with: “what do consumers want to engage with?” Rather than thinking, “what does the media plan look like?” we ask ourselves: “what is the story of engagement that we want to create?”
Put simply, we need to turn the media plan on its head. For too long planners have started with traditional solutions and then tried to build in interaction and innovation at the back end. We start by identifying the defining moment – when people can participate in and interact with the brand – and then build everything else around that moment
This philosophy informs every aspect of the company – from the creation of communal workspaces to the way we structure our media teams; from the new executional capabilities we are developing to a more sustainable use of our resources.
It is easy to talk in the abstract about the ‘digital revolution', and much harder to make sense of the forces that are transforming the media, and to harness them to drive coherent communication strategies that drive business transformation. Vizeum helps its clients to take on that challenge.
Erin Nicholl, Receptionist/PA
What I like about working at Vizeum The friendly atmosphere and team spirit.
The best thing about working in media Being in a busy, creative environment is challenging but always fun.
The best thing Vizeum has done Moving into our fantastic new office space.
What does Start From a Different Place mean to you? To generate new ideas that will produce extraordinary results.
Gabrielle Dawson, Head of Research
What I like about working at Vizeum Although the company is growing, it’s still nimble and open to change.
The best thing about working in media The people.
The best thing Vizeum has done Move office!
What does Start From a Different Place mean to you? Approaching every brief in a fresh way.
Judy Chan, Search
What I like about working at Vizeum Great people in a wonderful environment.
The best thing about working in media Working hard, playing hard.
The best thing Vizeum has done Everything we do is of the highest quality, particularly our pitches.
What does Start From a Different Place mean to you? Always trying to think of new and exciting integrated solutions to cut through the cluttered media environment.
Leela Chivers, Planning Manager
What I like about working at Vizeum The people – talented, fun, always wanting to work as a team.
The best thing about working in media The media is constantly changing, so every day brings a new challenge.
The best thing Vizeum has done I felt really proud when we announced that we’d retained the Coca-Cola account.
What does Start From a Different Place mean to you? A whole new way of thinking for our clients and their brands. No two campaigns are the same, but digital is at the heart of everything.
Mandy Cross, Press Manager
What I like about working at Vizeum We work as a close-knit team, and owing to our size, board directors are accessible and good work always recognised.
The best thing about working in media It’s a young, vibrant industry, and every working day is different.
What does Start From a Different Place mean to you? Encouraging planners and buyers to incorporate this philosophy into their everyday routines, and integrating online to aid this process.
Robert Cootes, Buying Manager
What I like about working at Vizeum The drive and ambition of the people here; the collective will to succeed.
The best thing about working in media The buzz, the people, the pace.
The best thing Vizeum has done Hiring me.
What does Start From a Different Place mean to you? Back to front and left to right or right to left, turn it on its head and mix it about. A plan, a strategy, a solution.
Stewart Gurney, Media Manager
What I like about working at Vizeum Its great to work in an environment where you both like your colleagues and have complete trust and confidence in them.
The best thing about working in media Every day is different – on Monday you could be sitting in on a brainstorm about cheese, and on Tuesday you might be creating a strategy for one of the world’s biggest brands.
The best thing Vizeum has done Winning the Coca-Cola account was amazing, as was getting a Silver Surfer on to the London Eye.
What does Start From a Different Place mean to you? It’s about having the courage and the knowledge to accept that our media environment is constantly changing and that old methods of working aren’t set in stone.
Grant Millar, Managing Director, Vizeum UK
Grant is Managing Director of Vizeum UK, managing over a hundred people and £220m in client billings.
Before joining Vizeum in 2005, Grant spent 6 years as BT’s Head of Planning and Media responsible for communications strategy and channel investment decisions across a budget of more than £250m. His work at BT included writing the original plan and brief for the launch of broadband in the UK.
Grant was Campaign Magazine’s first ever client-side ‘Face to Watch’ and in 2003 was voted BT Marketer of the Year from a field of 800 marketers.
Matthew Hook, Head of Strategy
Matthew Hook is Vizeum's Head of Strategy and is Vizeum born and bred, having joined in 2002 as a bright-eyed young graduate. He is now responsible for delivering incisive insight, strategic decision-making and creative thinking across all Vizeum's clients. These include the launch of Coke Zero for Coca-Cola and the Simpsons Movie for 20th Century Fox.
Matthew has a great passion for understanding media and the methods and madness that inform people's interaction with the communications around them. He utilizes this understanding to develop ever more engaging and innovative executions.
Matthew Platts, Managing Partner – Investment
Matthew has worked on the Trading & Investment side of media for 14 years, from being a Graduate TV Buyer at Vizeum to being the agency’s Managing Partner for Investment. He brings considerable experience of top-level group negotiation and translates this into real value for Vizeum clients.
Matthew manages the implementation team, overseeing Simon Bevan (Head of Broadcast), Natalie Rutherford (Head of Print Trading), Hannah Murphy (Head of Print Development) and Zoë Schmid (Creative Solutions Director).
Neil Cunningham, Digital Group Account Director
Having worked his way up through Aegis since joining in 2003, Neil worked with the HBOS group, Kodak and NTL at Diffiniti before moving to Vizeum in November 2006 to lead the HBOS, npower, and Panasonic digital accounts, which have combined billings of over £10m.
As head of digital client services, Neil is passionate about ensuring Vizeum is the most integrated and dynamic agency in the market.
Nick Dickson, Digital Group Account Director
Nick has worked in digital media since 1999, joining the Aegis group in 2003. As head of digital trading and technology, Nick’s remit is to ensure Vizeum clients not only receive the best pricing and service in the market but also harness the latest technology available.
Since 2003, Nick has managed and overseen all digital activity for the AOL account.
Paul Hutchison, Managing Partner
Paul started as a media auditor at Billetts before joining Vizeum as a planner on the Peugeot and RAC business. 5 years later, Paul was Associate Director on the HBOS and Coca-Cola business.
After an 18 month move to DLKW as a Senior Account Planner working for the AA, Paul re-joined Vizeum to head up the HBOS and Heinz accounts. A year later Paul was made Managing Partner and now also runs the npower business. In 2007 Paul was the first ever non-client delegate on the Marketing Society's Marketing Leaders programme.
Piers Taylor, Managing Partner - Planning
Piers has worked at Vizeum on the planning side of the business since 1995, starting as a graduate and progressing to Managing Partner in 2000. He leads a team of over 12 people.
Piers is responsible for the planning of the Coca-Cola, Coors, Eurostar and Panasonic brand portfolios, and has worked with Coca-Cola Great Britain since 2001. As well as holding overall responsibility for their communication planning output, he has helped them develop their digital strategy.
Piers has also controlled and worked on both the Eurostar and Panasonic accounts since 2005.
Stuart Newman, Managing Partner - Planning
Stuart joined Vizeum (formerly BBJ) in 1996 as a Planner and was made a Managing Partner in 2000. He manages the accounts for some of Vizeum’s biggest UK clients, including AOL, 20th Century Fox, Discovery Network and Halifax Bank of Scotland.
Stuart’s skill base covers the strategic direction of accounts while still remaining hands-on with the campaign delivery. Stuart is also involved in driving new business for the agency. Prior to joining Vizeum, Stuart worked at Starcom on the Proctor and Gamble and Texaco accounts.
- Vizeum UK is a local office of the Vizeum international (www.vizeum.com) network of media agencies, comprising more than 53 offices in 42 countries globally, with a team of about 100 in the UK.
- We have 20 years of experience in planning and buying media in the UK.
- Vizeum is wholly owned by Aegis Group plc (www.aegisplc.com), one of the largest global marketing services groups in the world.
- We still work for our founding client after all this time, and we are proud to work with some of the best brands in the UK.