On Strategy Showcase

After years inside agencies, James Hurman of Previously Unavailable, Adrian Ho of Zeus Jones, and Brent Vartan of Bullish share why they left, what they were chasing and how they got there.  The first in a series of episodes on how planners are applying their skills outside of the agency environment. Thanks to Tracksuit and the Master of Advertising Effectiveness (MAE) program for supporting this...

We talk live with Zoe Fairbourn, Head of Branded Entertainment at Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, Marc Gilbar, President of Brands & IP at Imagine Entertainment, Jack Verschleiser, Director of Business Strategy at Superconnector Studios, Aisea Laungaue, Global Partner, Executive Strategy Director at Anomaly, and Jen Costello, Global CSO at TBWA\Chiat\Day. Thank you to Tracksuit, The Effies...

In 2014, oven chip brand McCain was struggling. Cash-strapped shoppers were switching to cheaper brands and own label. Promotions were delivering short-term volume, but depressed revenue and margins. To reduce price elasticity, McCain committed to a sustained investment in brand advertising. But success took time and patience. Winner of the prestigious 2024 IPA Effectiveness Award Grand Prix for l...

Recorded in front of a live audience at W+K, New York on Oct. 17th, 2024. We're joined by BBDO's Worldwide CCO, Chris Beresford-Hill, W+K NY's Co-CCO, Marques Gartrell, Founder and CEO of Fundamentalco, Jonny Bauer and W+K NY's CSO, Laura Rowan. Thanks to our brilliant Live Tour sponsors: Effie Worldwide, WARC and Tracksuit.

Cheetos had marketed to families for decades. But growth and household penetration declined over time. Their shift from “Families & Fun” to "Rejuveniles" allowed the brand to turn what was perceived by parents as a product negative (messy Cheetos-covered fingertips on kids) into a product feature embraced by teens and young adults. For this 2024 Effie-winning campaign, we're joi...

While using the term Rockstar to describe someone in the office isn't new, exploring how true rockstars feel about it is. A B2B Effie award-winner, hear why the client's goal was to do award-winning work. Thanks to the Effies for supporting our show. See the creative work on our website and connect with our guests.

Built on the observation that after child birth most moms are starving and many crave Burger King, BK launched Bundles of Joy. Controversial to some, liberating to others, the idea caught fire in the media. We talk with Burger King's UK CMO, Katie Evans and BBH London's Head of Strategy, Saskia Jones. Thanks to Jira and Tracksuit for supporting our show.

We hear how having planners as founders made London The Home of Planning. How advertising might have an issue, but brands don’t. About the opportunity that exists in the “unloved surface areas of brands.” And about the people who professionally inspired each of these three great talents. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at Uncommon’s offices in London. Thanks to Tracksuit, WAR...

A masterclass in demonstrating the creative effectiveness of a medium or message. A Titanium Winner at Cannes and sure to be multiple Effie winner this year. We're joined by Ricardo Perez of JCDecaux and Daniela Bombonato of David, Madrid. Thanks to both Jira and Tracksuit for sponsoring this episode.

Inspired by Carlsberg and KFC, Pot Noodle designed a response to a product fail that lifted both the brand and the relaunched product to unexpected levels. By embracing its failure and using honesty as entertainment in a social only campaign, the brand extension was saved. Thanks to the Effie's for sponsoring this series. More at effie-org.

An APG Gold winner in 2015, Richard Huntington, CSO at Saatchi, London shares the strategy that delivered six years of consistent growth. And the nervous CEO who tried to kill it. See the work on our website. Thanks to JIRA and The Master of Advertising Effectiveness for sponsoring this episode.

Chris Beresford-Hill, Worldwide Chief Creative Officer at BBDO shares the real story behind the Michael Cera campaign, one he lead while at Ogilvy. Frustrated by how it was being told, he shares the reality. Thanks to JIRA for sponsoring this episode and to Tracksuit for supporting our show.

While we're live in London this week, this show's a brilliant rerun. It's not typical to associate a beer brand with an active lifestyle, but that's exactly the opportunity Michelob Ultra’s planning team discovered. Thanks to Tracksuit (the affordable brand tracking solution for modern-day brands) for sponsoring this episode. Back live next week.

It shocked us back in 1997 and won an APG Gold. But the question is, given the everyday nature of corrosive and extreme political behavior, have we now become immune to it? You be the judge. Thank you to Jira and The Master of Advertising Effectiveness (MAE) for sponsoring this episode.

This socially rooted campaign won for influencer marketing. We're joined by Jenny Lindquist of Kellanova and Mathew Clay of Weber Shandwick. Thanks to the Effies for supporting this episode. You can see the work one our website at onstrategyshowcase.com. 

The "Doordash-all-the-Ads" Super Bowl initiative won the Titanium Grand Prix at Cannes this year. It was an audacious idea that got eight million submissions and 11.9 billion earned impressions. Thanks to Jira and Tracksuit for supporting our show.

What are the implications of owning and admitting your category’s achilles heel? US Cellular's CMO, Eric Jagher and The Martin Agency's CBO, Elizabeth Paul share the story behind the latest work from the brand that encourages us to connect to what really matters. Thanks to Jira, the project management platform, for sponsoring this episode. More at jira.com.

Craig Mawdsley shares the story behind this APG Grand Prix award-winning campaign from 2007. The campaign drove £1.8 billion in revenue for the British grocery store chain in the first two years... £1.14 at a time. Thanks to Tracksuit (the affordable brand tracking solution) and the Master of Advertising Effectiveness Program for making this episode possible. More at gotracksuit.com and MAE.academ...

Milk's favorite cookie, losing share, finds new ways to bring shoppers across aisles. In this 2024 Gold Effie Award-winning initiative, Mondelez's Anne Martin and VML's Christina Ryan share the story behind OREO Codes, the idea that turns bar codes into cookie stacks... and savings. Thanks to the Effies for supporting our show and this new 2024 awards series. 

Dixons overcame its significant weaknesses by hijacking its competitors strengths. A brilliant APG Grand Prix award winner from 2011, its irreverent tone made it feel like the brand was on the side of the consumer, not just selling to them. Thanks to our friends at Jira (the project management platform) for sponsoring this episode. More at jira.com.

We're joined by Kim Baffi and Darren Brady-Harris to talk about the in-house Matthew McConaughey campaign designed to position Salesforce as the only trustworthy B2B Generative AI provider. Thanks to Tracksuit (the affordable brand tracking solution) for making this episode possible. More at gotracksuit.com

In his new book, The Road to Hell, Nick talks about the myth of "Purpose" being a market-driven phenomenon and the contagion he feels truly drove its growth. A fascinating conversation. Thanks to the Master of Advertising Effectiveness (MAE) program for supporting our show. Learn more at mae.academy.

Kit Kat debated whether to update its “Have a break” platform or to abandon it. This APG Grand Prix winning campaign from 2003 is about the peril of becoming so ubiquitous that you’re no longer noticed. About all the brand signals looking strong, while profitability was in decline. Fern Miller, the planner on the account at then JWT, shares the journey and the pivot. Thanks to Tracksuit (the affor...

Originally recorded in May 2020, this is a wonderfully refreshing and inspiring conversation about strategy and Wieden's approach to it. We hear about the importance of breaking institutional practices as a way to unearth opportunity hidden by "scar tissue." About the history of what defines Nike over time and the brand truth in everything it undertakes. And we talk about iconic Lev...

The original strategist on The Economist, Laura Marks, CBE shares the unlocks that shaped its decades-long campaign. A Gold Award winner from 1993, it's part of our Classics series with APG London, and is timeless in its lessons for marketers. Thanks to Tracksuit (the affordable brand tracking solution) for sponsoring this series.