Connected Podcast

Join us in bidding farewell to Sue Unerman as she leaves EssenceMediacom for exciting new opportunities. Sue's tenure at EM has been marked by innovation and passion. Tune in as we celebrate her journey, her love for New Orleans, and her undying admiration for Bob Dylan. Thanks Sue, for the inspiration and memories!

This week on Connected, Sue and Sacha sit down with VP Client Partner BT Group, Verity Campion. Verity is a media professional with over 20 years experience both in-house and agency side. Thriving in fast paced environments, Verity has worked across a large and diverse portfolio of accounts including BT Group, P&G, Associated British Foods, Ubisoft, Tyrrells Crisps and Arcadia. Experienced in managing large teams across both brand and performance activity, Verity really enjoys building and developing relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders. Her proudest moment in her career is being part of the incredible team who launched EE into the telco market in 2012.

This week on Connected, Sue and Sacha sit down with Former WPP UK President Karen Blackett. After 29 years at WPP, including long successful stints at Mediacom, Karen is leaving the company to pursue other external interests and opportunities. We discuss her career achievements, top 5 favourite moments at WPP and her love for chunky jewellery.

This week on Connected, Sue and Sacha sit down with David Wilding. David aims to help create new ways to deliver data and insight-driven communications. As CSO, he intends to lead the company's long-term strategy and innovation, and, drawing from his experience working with leading global brands, he will help EMX's clients deliver integrated solutions that span media, experience, data and tech.

This week on Connected, Sue and Sacha are joined by Managing Director of Client Experience for EssenceMediacom X, Jessica Lenehan. Jess has been at Essence since 2017 where she started as a client lead on Google. She has recently taken on the role of Managing Director which can be described as fundamental to the success and development of client relationships as she focuses on the people at EMX – both clients and internal teams. She will ensure clients are constantly thriving with a continuing funnel of growth through media, creative, data and technology.

This week on Connected, Sue and Sacha sit down with Leonardo Reyes Acosta who is SVP Head of Analytics here at EssencemediacomX. Leo is a talented and highly motivated data scientist, researcher and GIS enthusiast, with experience in the private sector and in academy. Passionate about his profession, he is keenly interested in understanding what motivates human behaviour, decision making and use of resources.

Happy New Year! This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue & Sacha down with CEO of EssenceMediacomX Clare Chapman. Clare is responsible for growing the business through exceptional client service and delivery, combining creativity and data-driven excellence. Clare returned to EssenceMediacomX in November 2023 after two years as CEO for Carat UK, having previously worked at Essence for four years as EVP, Head of Media.

This week on Connected, Sue sits down Chief Operating Officer of EssenceMediacomX Anna Berry. Anna has played an instrumental role in managing a raft of big-name clients. Prior to Essence, Anna spent 19 years at Mediacom as a Business Partner working across Sky, Direct Line Group and many more. Anna works with client services and specialist teams while taking on responsibility for “evolving best-in-class business practices” including Essence Flex, the company's approach to hybrid working, and developing initiatives on sustainability, well-being, diversity and inclusion.

This week on Connected, Sue and Sacha sit down with EM Global Head of Creative Transformation Nick Palmer. Nick led Global product development and creative innovation at Creative Systems, before assuming his current role as Global Head of Creative Transformation. Nick is primarily responsible for creating content centric strategies for international clients. Nick has worked at MediaCom for the past 18 years; previous roles include Global Head of Product, Head of Social Media Strategy at MediaCom Beyond Advertising in EMEA and International Strategy Director – where his work won at Cannes Lions plus European Effie Gold in 2011.

This week on Connected, Sue and Sacha sit down with US CEO of EssenceMediacom, Jill Kelly. Jill previously served as GroupM's Global CMO, during these three and a half years Jill led the revitalization of the GroupM brand and its reputation globally, demonstrating the power of brand purpose in driving business growth. The culmination of this work was the creation of the company's Responsible Investment Framework in 2021 to help align the business with its mission to define the next era of media where advertising works better for people. Jill is an accomplished communications and marketing professional, who likes to build teams and help tomorrow's leaders. She has her own personal principle: be the first to take the failures, and last to take the successes.

This week on the EssenceMediacom Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with Ocean Outdoor CEO Phil Hall. Phil joined Ocean as joint UK managing director in July 2019, after spending 18 years at Mediacom. Phil now aims to continue delivering innovation for advertisers in an unmissable, mass, brand-safe environment resulting in the most exciting growth phase for Ocean Outdoor.

This week on Connected, Sue and Sacha sit down with Managing Partner Liam Dawson. Liam has 17 years' experience in the industry with 15 of those spent working here at essencemediacom. Liam worked at News UK for a few years within the commercial sales team, working with agencies to help grow client relationships before eventually coming back to MediaCom. Liam has taken a new role as Managing Partner of the Flutter Group within the TED dept, where he takes leadership responsibilities for various clients including Paddy Power Betfair, Tombola & Sky Bet while assisting with the overall performance of the TED department as a whole.

This week on Connected, Sue and Sacha sit down with EMX Head of Creative Futures, Rob Meldrum. Previously worked as SVP Head of experience EMEA at Essence last year before taking his current role. Rob has great in-depth knowledge of the digital ecosystem, not only is he full of experience, skills, and knowledge, Rob is great at finding practical solutions to complex problems that will lead to both creative and effective work.

Lindsey Jordan is Head of Creative Strategy & Creative Futures here at EssenceMediacom having just started the role in January this year. Lindsey started working for MediaCom in 2005 as a planner/buyer at MediaCom Scotland, then moved to London as a Planner in 2007. Went on to become Strategy Director in 2013 working across a range of brands and categories, from FMCG, to technology, to home, to charity all before taking her current role where Lindsey specializes in making amazing media ideas come to life.

This week on the essencemediacom Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with EMEA Chief Analytics Officer Barbara Blanzat Henao. Barbara has expertise within data management, analytics, strategy, and brand marketing. Huge passion for data understanding, capability, and business growth, whilst taking pride in building and retaining top analytics talent. Barbara also specializes in research, measurement, and predictive analytics, enabling better business decisions through driving efficiency and insights.

This week on Connected, Sue and Sacha sit down with Kristen Gower who is Global President at EssenceMediacom. In 2022, Kristen established Mediacom's dedicated B2B practice building a team that provides end-to-end scaled marketing solutions to a new generation of marketers, leveraging strategic expertise, audience and customer marketing, data orchestration and advanced analytics with an in-depth understanding of each clients' business needs. As a member of the Global and US EXCO teams, Kristen collaborates with leaders across the globe to drive revenue and client acquisition.

This week on Connected, Sue and Sacha sit down with the Founder of MarketingKind Paul Skinner. Paul Skinner is the founder of MarketingKind, which brings together business leaders, marketers and change-makers to tackle social and environmental problems through their brands and businesses, volunteering and activism. Paul is an advisory board member at the Museum of Brands, an Expert Advisor for the Future Strategy Club and has been awarded an honorary visiting fellowship by Edge Hill University Business School.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with EssenceMediacomX CEO Ryan Storrar. Ryan was appointed CEO of Essence EMEA in 2022, and now works as Global Chief Media Solutions Officer across EssenceMediacom and CEO of EssenceMediacomX. Ryan joined Essence in early 2016, and led the development of Essence's media practices with a particular emphasis on the use of bespoke data and technology which drive outcomes for brands which include Google, NBC Universal, BT, and others. Under his leadership, Essence's approach has gained industry recognition which notably includes being named by AdExchanger as the No. 1 programmatic agency in the world.

This week on the Connected Podcast, we sit down with EssenceMediacom Global CEO Nick Lawson after his time visiting some of the offices across the world. We discuss the merger now a month in and his overall hopes for the year ahead.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with Co Founder & Editor at Creative Salon, Sonoo Singh. Sonoo is a business journalist and editor with more than two decades of experience reporting on media and marketing. Known for agenda-setting exclusives and high profile interviews with industry figures from across the world - for print, online and video. She is the co-founder and editor at Creative Salon which showcases and celebrates the power of commercial creativity to drive business growth as well as to fuel the economy. Sonoo also helped create the Incredible Women initiative documenting real life stories about female empowerment, exploration, potential and perseverance.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue and I talk with Claire Prince. Claire is Director and Head of Branded Entertainment here at EssenceMediacom having worked in the role since for just over a year. With over a decade of successfully developing factual TV concepts for international broadcasters Claire has spent the last 5 years working with global brands (both in-house and at agencies) creating original and purposeful film and podcast content. She also has a deep knowledge and interest in traditional broadcast TV, social media and multiplatform entertainment output.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sacha goes from Co-host to guest after being recognised as Face to Watch 2022 by Campaign Magazine. Sacha is a PRO Account Director having worked for the company for five years. Sue quizzes Sacha on his time at MediaCom and what he hopes to achieve next year. We also discuss his huge love for music and Lucozade Sport.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with MediaCom's Global Art Director Sam Learmonth. Sam has worked for MediaCom for just over twenty years, starting with helping out on mock ups for new business pitches working as the Joint head of MediaCom Create. Twenty years later he is now the Global Art Director here at MediaCom working across logo design, website design, signage and all business creative.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with MediaCom's Head of Media & Business Operations Graeme Canter. Graeme started his career at MediaCom in June 2000 and has since held seven different positions within the investment and operational functions here at MediaCom. During his time at MediaCom he has helped bring in numerous new business accounts and works very closely with GroupM and WPP to ensure a smooth running of all the IT and tech requirements. In addition to this, he is a mental health ally and heads up MediaCom's Faith ERG.

Happy Friday! This week on the MediaCom Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down Media Week 30 under 30 winner Jack Lynch. Jack is a Senior Associate Director - Data and Tech Strategist here at MediaCom having worked at the company for just over 6 years. Jack started his career as a Paid Social Planner Buyer working across SKY & Now TV. Jack now leads some of the UK's largest media pitches for the company. In 2021 he was tasked with the role of digital and data innovation lead for the launch of Sky Glass, Sky's biggest product release in 25 years. With a passion for data-driven marketing and changing the way people use data for the better, Jack is at the forefront of driving the privacy-first agenda, identifying new ways of unlocking commercial value using data opportunities.

This week on the MediaCom Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with Mediacom's Head of Publishing Adam Crow. Adam joined MediaCom in January 2008 & has over 30 years' experience in the publishing arena, having been Head of Publishing at 4 of the top 10 UK media agencies. Currently heads up the Publishing team here at MediaCom where he has worked for the last 15 years. Previously worked across Times Media, helping the company take a more strategic approach to its clients. Prior to this he was investment director at Omnicom and before that press director at PHD.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with WeAre8 founder and CEO Sue Fennessy. A serial tech entrepreneur who spent the last 30 years building transformational businesses. You may also know her as the founder and former CEO of Standard Media Index, the world's leading media data aggregation business. She was highlighted by Forbes as a leading innovator in 2017. Sue has channelled all this global experience and industry knowledge into building what she describes as the future of digital media.

Lord Mark Price is a businessman, writer and former government Minister of Trade. Former Managing Director of Waitrose, Deputy Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership and Chairman of Business in the Community, spent over 40 years unlocking the power of people in organisations. Lord Mark is also the president of the CMI and board member of Coca Cola European Partners. Passionate about creating engaged and happy work forces which in turn create longer-term sustainable success for organisations.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with Misha Sher who is Global Head of Sport, Entertainment and Culture here at MediaCom. As an industry veteran who has been at the forefront of the sports industry for more than 15 years, Misha has negotiated and advised on sponsorship investments and activations with major sport & entertainment properties, including UEFA, IOC, NFL and F1 in more than 25 countries. At MediaCom, he has built and scaled global sport & entertainment business that sits at the intersection of sport, media, lifestyle and culture, with clients that include some of the biggest blue-chip brands like Toyota, Shell, Mars and many more as well as top talent such as Pelé, Brian Lara, Mesut Özil, Vinicius Jr and Eniola Aluko.

This week on the Connected Podcast we sit down with the co-founder himself Andrew Spurrier-Dawes. ASD is EMEA Head of Precision & Digital for Wavemaker's consulting hub in London where he has been working for the last eleven months. Previously worked at MediaCom as a Global Digital Director, leading digital strategy whilst planning and buying for numerous Global clients. With more than fourteen years of digital experience he continues specialise in everything data, audience science, analytics, ecommerce, search, social and content in order to play a positive role in digital transformation, activation excellence and precision product development.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue & Sacha sit down with Tim Irwin who is currently Global Chief Operating Officer at Essence having been recently appointed the role in January 2022. Tim is an experienced advertising leader with more than two decades' experience in executive roles at media agencies. Since joining Essence in 2018 as EMEA Chief Operating Officer, Tim's operational expertise and leadership skills have played a critical role in helping the agency scale rapidly and meet the needs of clients and employees throughout the region. Prior to joining Essence, Tim served as Chief Operating Officer for Maxus, where he helped develop the agency from a fledgling business to one of the UK's top ten media agencies. Prior to Maxus he was Managing Director for London boutique operation, BJK&E Media.

Welcome to the very first edition of the new EssenceMediacom Connected Podcast. Sue Unerman, Chief Transformation Officer at MediaCom and Sacha Owusu, PRO Account Director at MediaCom sit down with the new Global CEO of EssenceMediacom, Nick Lawson. Starting his career with the agency as a media planner at The Media Business Group in 1991, he has risen through the ranks to lead the business, firstly as CEO of MediaCom UK in 2006, as CEO of EMEA in 2008 then COO Worldwide in 2019 and most recently Global CEO in 2020. We discuss the merger, opportunities and benefits for both companies plus his unconditional love for Bordeaux.

This week on the Connected Podcast Sue and Sacha sit down with Netsai Mangwende who is the U.K. CFO for GroupM where she has worked for the last 8 months. In her new role, she is responsible for leading the strategy and day-to-day management of GroupM U.K.'s Financial, Commercial and Business Operations Teams. Netsai has extensive and commendable experience within financial and professional services and a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing large organisations in the U.K. Netsai has over 15 years' experience in senior roles at complex multinational organisations including AIG, Royal and Sun Alliance, Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers in the United Kingdom, Bermuda and Southern Africa.

This week on Connected, Sue and Sacha sit down with Emily Trenouth who is Head of Influencer Marketing here at MediaCom. Her role is to lead the Influencer Marketing division for both UK & Worldwide teams, working with clients such as Coca Cola, Mars, Sky and many more. Emily is also hugely passionate about gender equality and championing future female talent, which she is proactively driving forward as a Board Member of a non-profit mentoring programme called OK Mentor. Last year Emily became an adweek Future Is Female Honouree and ever so recently was awarded with the rising star award at the Female Frontier Campaign awards.

This week on the MediaCom Connected podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with Claire Ferguson, Managing Partner & Head of Agency Communications here at MediaCom. An experienced communications and marketing strategy lead and planner with 20 years' experience in the industry. Claire's role covers all aspects of Marketing and Communications for MediaCom UK internally and externally, including PR, events, strategy, awards, internal communications and owned channel communications.

This week on the MediaCom Connected Podcast Sue and Sacha sit down with MediaCom's Global CFO Charlotte Frijns. Charlotte joined the agency from GroupM UK, where she worked as CFO, bringing huge experience handling the financial side of agency life, having worked in a wide range of senior finance roles across Publicis Groupe companies prior to taking up her current position here at MediaCom.

This week Sue and Sacha sit down with Lisa Humphreys, Strategy Development Director, WPP UK and Chief Transformation & Integration Officer, Group M. She has worked within the WPP network since joining MediaCom in 2007, working across WPP's UK business in every area of the communications and marketing landscape, from Media to Commerce, Technology to Experience. A core focus of her role is bringing together diverse capabilities to build extraordinary solutions for clients and future proofing the organisation in the UK market.

This week Sue and Sacha sit down with Josh Krichefski Global COO and EMEA CEO at MediaCom. We roundup 2021, talk through his hopes for MediaCom in 2022 and what he would practice more if he had the time and space.

For the last podcast of the year, Sue and I sit down with Sonya Arthur, Managing Partner and Head of BU5 better known as TED (The Entertainment Division). Sonya started her MediaCom career in 2000 as a press buyer, transitioning over the years to trading across multi-media channels. Sonya was appointed Managing Partner & Head of TED in 2017 and has managed significant operational change within the team as well as leading several new business wins. We discuss living with COVID and its impact on work and personal life, plus her love for Prince, Lord of the Rings and London.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with Di Mayze who is the Global Head of Data & AI at WPP where she has worked for the last 18 months. WPP's resident ‘data geek' has over 20 years of technology and data experience across media, FMCG, finance and retail consulting for companies such as Hearst UK, dunnhumby & Walgreens Boots Alliance.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with Babs Maye who is the UK Head of Addressable Creative here at MediaCom. Babs has over 12 years' experience in digital advertising demonstrated by developing meaningful brand equity platforms, content marketing strategies, and cause marketing programs. Babs spent two and a half years at Mindshare as the Global DCO at Nestle before deciding to join the wonderful world of MediaCom.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with Demet Ikiler who is GroupM EMEA CEO. She joined WPP in 2000 to launch Mindshare, she progressed to CEO of GroupM Turkey and then was promoted to CEO of GroupM EMEA in Feb 2020. We discuss her current role after a year and how it feels to be responsible for 27 markets.

This week on the Connected Podcast we sit down with Louis Georgiou, Founder and Director of Code Computerlove where he's worked for the last 22 years. His background in creative technology immediately positioned the agency as a digital leader in the North. We discuss his passion for utilising technology to create engaging customer experiences that deliver results, as well as collecting vintage Lego, digital watches and setting the Official Guinness World Record in 2017 for the most number of Transformers memorabilia with 2,111 items.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with Michelle Yin who is the COO of MediaCom China. Michelle holds extensive management experience spanning over two decades at consultancy firms, multinational advertisers and other media agencies. She previously worked as the COO for Havas Media before deciding to re-join MediaCom last year.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with Nigel Robinson who is a Managing Partner at MediaCom. Nigel has led client teams in the UK, managed the UK Planning Department, headed up our UK New Business team and led global client teams across multiple territories. He now leads a business group of amazing clients, whilst helping to transform the agency with new Agile working practices.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with Kristen Dardani who is the EVP in Mobility & Careers at MediaCom where she has worked for the last seven years. After years of managing client relationships at three of the big four holding companies and a handful of boutique shops, Kristen now helps agencies figure out their own employee value proposition and put in place initiatives to help recruit, retain and mobilize their talent assets.

This week Sue and ASD sit down with Giles Edwards who is the Founder and Creative Director at …Gasp!, creator of the ISOLATED Talks host of the Call to Action podcast as well as being a mentor for several organisations.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with Jaydeep Chaudhuri who is the Regional Managing Partner of Mediacom Asia Pacific. Jaydeep is a Diversity & Inclusion advocate, he's part of both the Global Belonging council as well as the Global Wellness Council. In these forums they work to engender diversity & inclusion in our community whilst providing MediaCommers with the resources and comfort to take control and seek help for their overall wellbeing.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with Yaron Farizon who is a long-serving MediaCommer with over 20 years of experience within the industry. Yaron has just transitioned into his new role as the CEO of MediaCom Australia after previously working as the CEO of MediaCom Russia and MediaCom Connections Israel. We discuss his roots, new role in Australia and what he intends to achieve by the end of this year.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with Michelle Holmes who is the Managing Partner for MediaCom US where she has been working for the last four years. Michelle prides herself on being a proven digital marketing professional with agency and client-side experience in numerous industries such as Hospitality, travel and entertainment, pharmacy retail and many more. Michelle is Co-Chair of the Global belonging Council playing a huge role in identifying culture and diversity, working to show how critical these are to our working life here at MediaCom.

This week on the Connected Podcast, Sue and Sacha sit down with Adrian Walcott who is Managing Director at Brands With Values where he has worked for the last six years. Adrian is also a Co-founder of an award winning social enterprise BAME2020 - No Turning Back which focuses on encouraging more people from diverse ethnic backgrounds into the marketing, media and communications sector.