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This week we meet Gerry O’Donnell, ahead of his appearance at our Ogilvy Day; Masterclass with Peter Fisk in Edinburgh on 23 June.
What’s your golden rule?
Always add plenty of ice! The ice should act like a battery of coldness and not melt before you get back from the bar to your seat.
Who has been your biggest influence?
Two teachers, Willie McLaughlin and John Russell, taught me how to debate. With their coaching I was able to speak confidently in public and avoid becoming a shy accountant!
What is your most hated business expression?
I don’t hate any of them. Some of them make me smirk, like “paradigm shift”, a pompous phrase that means a very big change. I’m not a fan of “variant”; it renders the emotion out of marketing and makes everything sound like a car part.
What’s the smartest business idea you ever had?
Early in my career at Matthew Gloag I ran a workshop on Orkney that recommended making the aged stocks of Highland Park available for sale. The aged whiskies of Highland Park are now a valuable part of our portfolio and Highland Park 18 years old is a multiple winner of the “Best Spirit in the World” accolade.
Which leader do you admire and why?
Bill Clinton. I regularly re-read his 2001 Dimbleby lecture “The Struggle for the soul of the 21st century” as it’s the sharpest take on how to save the planet from itself and one of the finest pieces of oratory I’ve ever heard. I’m certain that history will be kind to Clinton . He laid the foundations for health care reform and fixed the USA budget deficit. We could do with a few like him right now.
What’s your favourite word?
“Budget” – no, just kidding! It’s “Innervigoration”. When I was working on a famous gin brand the creatives couldn’t find a word to describe the mental and physical refreshment of a gin & tonic, so they invented one!
Tell us a secret
I have a Portuguese national insurance number! Obrigado.
Posted: June 10th, 2011 | Author: Glen Dower | Filed under: Q+A, WLTM | Tags: Famous Grouse, Gerry O'Donnell, interview, The Edrington Group, the marketing society, WLTM | Leave a Comment »
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Posted: January 28th, 2011 | Author: Glen Dower | Filed under: gapingvoid | Tags: gapingvoid, the marketing society | Leave a Comment »
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Posted: January 21st, 2011 | Author: Glen Dower | Filed under: gapingvoid | Tags: gapingvoid, the marketing society | Leave a Comment »
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Posted: January 14th, 2011 | Author: Glen Dower | Filed under: gapingvoid | Tags: gapingvoid, the marketing society | Leave a Comment »
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What’s your golden rule?
Less is more.
Who has been your biggest influence?
My wife. She ensures I keep things in perspective and constantly reminds me not to take life too seriously.
What is your most hated business expression?
“110%”
What’s the smartest business idea you’ve ever had?
More of a learning really… to embrace change – it’s inevitable.
Which leader do you admire most and why?
Sir Richard Branson. The epitome of entrepreneurialism and that’s at the heart of our industry. A great idea really can come from anywhere, but it takes obsession and passion in equal measure to make it happen.
What’s your favourite word?
“Discombobulate”. Even writing it makes me smile.
Tell us a secret.
I’m incapable of lying – I’m far too transparent and these days have a terrible memory!
A warm welcome to Chris who has recently joined The Marketing Society as a member. We’re looking to profile all our members here, so please do email Maddie to get involved, if we haven’t yet been in touch.
Posted: January 13th, 2011 | Author: Glen Dower | Filed under: Q+A, WLTM | Tags: Chris Freeland, Digital Marketing, the marketing society, Tullo Marshall Warren, WLTM | 1 Comment »
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In our weekly audio series, Kevin Duncan, author of Business and Marketing Greatest Hits, reviews the most interesting business books and ideas.
This week, Kevin looks at organisation.
Click the gramophone to listen.
Kevin Duncan is a business adviser, marketing expert, motivational speaker and author. He blogs about business books and expert advice.
Image: Dream Designs, FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Posted: January 12th, 2011 | Author: Glen Dower | Filed under: Growth Drivers | Tags: Growth Drivers, Kevin Duncan, Marketing Greatest Hits | Leave a Comment »
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So you want to be on Facebook? That’s what all brand owners are saying at the moment, but make sure it’s really worth it, argues David Taylor, founder of the brandgym
Facebook is clearly a red-hot topic for brand owners today. Every brand team I talk to is busily beavering away to boost the number of people who click to “like” their brand page, and so get regular updates and news. But at the risk of being accused as a social media Luddite, I wonder if this effort is worthwhile for your average fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) brand. If we get past the hype and hysteria about social media, when it comes to brand building, what the hell is Facebook really for? Most importantly, does it have the potential to grow your brand?
Fortunately, the nice people at DDB Opinionway recently published research on Facebook and brands. This research throws some desperately needed illumination on the subject. The research was done with 1600 people who have clicked to like a brand page and so follow the updates and news. It covered UK, USA, France, Italy and Australia. So, for all those brands spending time and money on Facebook, here’s the good news… and then the bad news.
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Posted: January 11th, 2011 | Author: Glen Dower | Filed under: Growth Drivers | Tags: brandgym, david taylor, Facebook, Growth Drivers, the marketing society | Leave a Comment »
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Posted: January 7th, 2011 | Author: Glen Dower | Filed under: gapingvoid | Tags: gapingvoid | Leave a Comment »
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I have now been in the supplier side of the research industry at BrainJuicer® for a little over four months. I have met wonderful people (colleagues, clients, competitors, respondents, suppliers), attended fabulous industry events (ESOMAR Innovate Conference, Dutch MOA Congress, different universities, etc) and read plenty of research papers and recent findings in psychological, behavioural and neurological science.
As an innovator and marketer, I like to look for paradoxes and areas of tension. They are present in every sector and in every human system with market research being no exception.
I find it surprising then that in the market research industry, our main instrument of work is often called the ‘questionnaire’. Are we as an industry, looking to simply confirm our hypotheses by ticking off questions that only propagate an already established picture? Or are we willing to work ‘obliquely’ to extract answers that illuminate, inspire and give us the full picture?
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Posted: January 6th, 2011 | Author: Glen Dower | Filed under: Customer Stream | Tags: brainjuicer, carola verschoor, Customer Champions, market research, the marketing society | Leave a Comment »
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In our weekly audio series, Kevin Duncan, author of Business and Marketing Greatest Hits, reviews the most interesting business books and ideas.
This week, Kevin looks at creativity.
Click the gramophone to listen.
Kevin Duncan is a business adviser, marketing expert, motivational speaker and author. He blogs about business books and expert advice.
Image: Dream Designs, FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Posted: January 5th, 2011 | Author: Glen Dower | Filed under: Growth Drivers | Tags: Audio, Growth Drivers, Kevin Duncan, Marketing Greatest Hits, the marketing society | Leave a Comment »
This week we meet Gerry O’Donnell, ahead of his appearance at our Ogilvy Day; Masterclass with Peter Fisk in Edinburgh on 23 June.
