Executive Connections LLC

Connecting organizations with the future of marketing

Connections E-Zine

Filed Under: Announcements, Connections E-Zine, Digital Proficiency, Executive Coaching, Executive Talent, Marketing Conferences & Events, New Executive Search

CONNECTIONS Ezine: Issue No. 62

In this issue:

  • In Our Opinion:  Women Leading Marketing Innovation
  • New Career Opportunities:
    • Global CMO
    • CMO – Growth Markets
    • CMO – Start-up Mobile Advertising/M-Commerce
    • Managing Director, Social Media
  • Blog Roundup:
    • Blog – AdWeek NYC 2013 — “Winning The Talent Wars”
  • Articles:
    • “PPC Campaign Ratings and ROI – How Best to Incorporate Them Into Your Models” by Scott Ellis, VP Client Solutions, Adworthy
    • “Women in Innovation:  The Labor Day Triumph of Diana Nyad” — Sept. 7, 2013 — by David Dallaire, Founder/Principal – Fennec Consulting

In Our Opinion by Jeff Gundersen & Lola White

Women Leading Marketing Innovation

Having spent this entire past week at Advertising Week 2013 in NYC, meeting with various terrific women CMOs and women CEOs of agencies and media companies, we thought it timely to dedicate this month’s ezine intro to “Women Leading Innovation.”  In addition, we were inspired by the recent article written by David Dallaire (long time client and friend) on the same topic, which we have included for your reading pleasure, as well .

We continue to view the dramatic and rapid shift of Marketing, Advertising & Media to a mobile and digital world, with many opportunities for new content and on demand consumption, representing an exciting new landscape being led by many women innovators.

The New CMO Profile

The mega-trends we are seeing include continued strategic hiring, and targeted acquisitions, in the areas of Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, Social Media, and Mobile Marketing. CMO hiring has also picked up with almost one-third of the top 20 CMOs moving to new career opportunities. Interestingly, the target profile for new age CMOs has shifted from a previous concentration on Branding & Communications to the current focus on Analytics, Digital/Mobile, Technology, and Global marketing experience.

As an example, look at Liza Landsman, recently hired as the new CMO at E*Trade. Liza was Managing Director, Global Digital at Black Rock and previously EVP, Consumer Internet and Mobile at Citibank where she led online banking, e-commerce, and digital marketing. Liza was recruited by Citibank out of IBM, so she has a solid technology core prior to entering the financial services sector. Liza was not a CMO previous to being hired by E*Trade and she replaced a traditional brand/CPG marketer in Nick Utton who left E*Trade after a 9 year run.

The Next Generation of Marketing Innovators

Women CMOs (such as Liza) are leading the next generation of marketing innovation…and we can point to several other women CMOs (Helena Foulkes – CVS, Frances Allen – Denny’s, Trish Mueller – Home Depot, Beth Hirschhorn – MetLife, Martine Reardon – Macy’s, Michelle Crecca – Webster Financial) who are transforming their company’s marketing operations and shifting priorities to lead with various forms of online branding, customer engagement, social media (listening), e-commerce, and geo-targeted mobile marketing campaigns. The new definition of marketing is one-to-one personalized communications with relevant (permission-based) offers and information when customers and prospects are shopping or in geographic proximity to the brand’s retail location. Convenience and immediacy are also key drivers…as consumers are also balancing busy work and family lives…and the younger millennial generation wants everything now…without delays or an inordinate wait time.

With Advertising Week 2013 just completed (Sept. 23-27), Advertising Women of New York (AWNY) once again held several meetings and events to support their “women mentoring women” initiatives. Women seeking to get ahead and learn how to proactively manage their personal careers formed a line which went outside the building and half-way up 41st Street outside the Times Center on Tuesday waiting to get into  Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” session moderated by Joanna Coles, Editor-In-Chief at Cosmopolitan. Women were anxious to join the discussion on how women can overcome gender biases and can work together to create a more equal playing field at the C-suite level. Whether you agree or not with Sandberg’s message, here are a few highlights from which to ponder:

  • Excuses and justifications won’t get women anywhere;
  • Believe in yourself, give it your all, and don’t doubt you can have it all (career and family);
  • Be more ambitious, what would you do if you weren’t afraid (to fail)?
  • Only one criteria mattered in picking a job…fast growth;
  • Ask yourself constantly, how could I do better? – what don’t I know? – what don’t I see?;
  • Done is better than perfect.

We connected Sandberg’s session with another insightful Case Study on women’s self-esteem – Dove’s Real Beauty Sketches Campaign which has received 163 million views on YouTube (#1 Cannes YouTube campaign). Watch the YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r79Q6gAQhao) and it will confirm 95% of women globally do not feel they are beautiful and “Sketches” show the differences and how much real beauty others see in women (that they don’t see in themselves). So this is an opportunity area for women to develop as they continue to gain ground at C-levels and in the Boardroom.

Who are the women innovators you most admire for leading the current marketing and technology transformation and what is it about them that makes them so admirable to you?

As always, your thoughts and input are greatly appreciated!  Contact us.

Career Opportunities

Global CMO
CMO – Growth Markets
CMO – Mobile Advertising/M-Commerce Start-up
Managing Director, Social Media

Learn more.

Blog Roundup: Did you catch our recent posts on our blog?

BLOG:  AdWeek NYC 2013 — “Winning The Talent Wars”

Talent is the single most important factor in guaranteeing sustained business success. Marketing is changing rapidly and becoming more technology- and analytics-based, in addition to creativity.

This is such an important topic, AdWeek NYC 2013 devoted two entire panels to the topic of winning the talent wars starting with the CEO. Here are some thoughts offered by David Kenny (CEO, Weather Channel), Michael Leedy (CMO, American Eagle Outfitters), Andrew Bennett (Global President, Havas WW), James Citrin (Spencer Stuart), and Sheila Marcelo (CEO – Care.com):    …Read more

Articles

PPC Campaign Ratings and ROI – How Best to Incorporate Them Into Your Models
by Scott Ellis, VP Client Solutions – Adworthy

When lookinScott - Head Shouldersg to answer the question of how much, where and when do we spend online, it makes sense to start with channels with readily available metrics you can measure for primary attribution.  Whether you are trying to establish an efficiency rating for your campaigns or calculating contribution margin from an online channel,  search, because it is the most purpose-driven audience is often the bellwether for most of online spend.  So which is more important in determining the budget allocation to paid search, a third party review and rating or internal ROI budgetary success?                            …Read complete article

Women in Innovation:  The Labor Day Triumph of Diana Nyad — Sept. 7, 2013
by David Dallaire, Founder/Principal – Fennec Consulting

Taking Inspiration From Those Who Already Made It Happen
The amazing achievement of Diana Nyad this week is a great reminder during our Labor Day holiday last week that inspiration comes from many places. Completing the 110 mile swim (110 miles!?!) on her fifth and final try, she is both an inspiration and model for persistence for men and women alike (see the full story of her finish here).  …Read complete article.

 

Filed Under: Announcements, Connections E-Zine, Digital Proficiency, Executive Talent, Getting Hired in Digital Marketing, New Executive Search, Personal Branding

CONNECTIONS Ezine: Issue No. 61

In this issue:

  • In Our Opinion:  Who Is Leading the Recovery?
  • New Career Opportunities:
    • CMO – Growth Markets
    • CMO – Start-up Mobile Advertising/M-Commerce
  • Blog Roundup:
    • Blog – Are You Ready for mCommerce and is mCommerce Ready for YOU?
    • Blog – DMEF Rebrands to Create a Marketing EDGE

In Our Opinion by Jeff Gundersen & Lola White

Emerging Markets & Marketing Technology Leading the Recovery

We are definitely seeing the fragile economic recovery continuing to gradually expand. What began with tepid recoveries in the retail, automotive, and housing sectors is continuing with growth in the healthcare and technology sectors. While many sectors are still flat or declining, the sustained housing recovery (aided by low mortgage interest rates) continues to build momentum.

While many analysts complain this is still a jobless recovery (WSJ.com – Mort Zuckerman: A Jobless Recovery Is a Phony Recovery – 7/15/13), corporate profits and the stock markets are at record high levels, companies have lots of cash, and global companies are investing aggressively to position themselves for long-term sustained success.

So where is this investment going? We see two areas.

Multinational companies continue to invest aggressively in building their brands and businesses in Emerging & Growth Markets. 

One of our newest executive search assignments is for a CMO – Growth Markets. This new CMO role is focused on expanding our client’s business into markets including Brazil, Mexico, China, India, Turkey, and the Middle East region. These marketing assignments are among the most interesting ones for us, and they prove how small the global marketing community really is, as we connect with CMO candidates across the globe in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East regions.

Marketing technology investments are rapidly changing the marketing eco-system. 

CMOs are gaining huge technology budgets to build the new online platforms to implement digital, mobile, social media and m-commerce strategies and campaigns. In the future CMOs will have a larger technology budget than the CIO…and this is the new partnership (CMO & CIO) within top global advertisers. Marketing technology investments are “white hot” and we are seeing a significant number of acquisitions as all players in the marketing eco-system position themselves for sustained growth and market share. Just look at Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo!, (WSJ – Yahoo’s Mayer Hits One Year Mark – 7/15/13) who has purchased 17 technology start-ups (including Tumblr for $1.1 Billion) in her first year of turning around and repositioning Yahoo’s business. Check out the recent Forbes article by Bruce Rogers titled Strategic Consultancies Invade Marketing Agency Space. We have previously seen media/publishing companies including Hearst, Meredith, News Corp, and Time Inc. build integrated marketing agencies to compete directly with leading digital agencies including Digitas, Razorfish, and Sapient. Now the top strategic consultancies (led by Accenture Interactive) are moving into the marketing agency space through acquisitions since they see huge global opportunities to build the technology platforms (data analytics, geo-fencing/ targeting, content management, campaign management) required to deliver the next generation of digital and mobile advertising solutions.

New jobs are being created but require engineering and programming skills which are in short supply currently.

The marketing technology transformation is creating many new jobs, however, there are not enough skilled engineers and programmers to meet the rapidly growing needs of marketers, media companies, and technology providers. This “talent gap” and shortage of technically proficient marketers is getting larger based upon the rapid growth of mobile marketing and m-commerce and it represents a long-term education and training opportunity and priority. We are partnering with Marketing EDGE and the Mobile Marketing Association to launch a Mobile Marketing Talent Task Force and we invite interested companies to reach out directly to us to find out more regarding talent acquisition and development in this new digital marketing age.

IN SUMMARY

The “heat wave” we all experienced recently is not just in record hot temperatures this Summer, it is also in the pace of marketing change being driven by rapid consumer adoption of mobile and digital technologies in all forms and the resulting technology investments being made by media, marketing services and top global advertisers.

As always, we welcome your comments and input. Stay cool!

Career Opportunities

CMO – Growth Markets – NEW
CMO – Mobile Advertising/M-Commerce Start-up – NEW
Managing Director, Alliance Sales Lead
Managing Director, Social Media Offering Lead
Managing Director, Investment Banking

Learn more.

Blog Roundup: Did you catch our recent posts on our blog?

BLOG:  Are You Ready for mCommerce and is mCommerce Ready for YOU?

The economy is continuing to heat up.
It is so encouraging to be operating again in an ever-improving global economy. We are seeing things heating up globally and signs of growth and expansion are appearing virtually everywhere!  …Read more

BLOG:  DMEF Rebrands to Create a Marketing EDGE

Marketing EDGE is launched…to Educate, Develop, Grow & Employ the next generation of marketing leaders!

At the Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF) annual “Rising Stars” Awards Dinner Tuesday night in NYC, Terri Bartlett – DMEF President  – announced the rebranding of the organization introducing a new name – Marketing EDGE (www.MktgEDGE.org), aligned with the organization’s mission to Educate, Develop, Grow & Employ the next generation of marketing leaders.  …Read more

 

Filed Under: Ask Our Coach, Connections E-Zine, Digital Proficiency, Executive Coaching, Getting Hired in Digital Marketing, Marketing Conferences & Events, New Executive Search, Personal Branding

CONNECTIONS EZINE: Issue No. 60

In this issue:

  • In Our Opinion:  Are You Addressing the Mobile Marketing Talent Gap?
  • Blog Roundup:
    •  Mobile Marketing 2013 Forum Recap – What You Need to Know!
  • Career Announcements: Digital Consulting, HR Consulting, Investment Banking & Financial Services

In Our Opinion

Are You Addressing the Mobile Marketing Talent Gap?
by Jeff Gundersen & Lola White

OVERVIEW – Mobile Adoption is Scaling Rapidly
Organizations know consumers’ attention is increasingly being drawn to their mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.), but most marketers are still in the early stages of mobile marketing strategy development — and they face an uphill climb to evolve beyond basic mobile marketing strategies to building the dedicated mobile marketing organizations and recruiting/developing/training the talent required for sustained future mobile marketing growth and success.
Marketers need to assess the current and future mobile talent needs (and gaps) and develop “best practices” related to education, hiring, training, and development of the future mobile marketing talent needed for sustained success in this new connected mobile marketing age.

CENTRAL ISSUES – Mobile Talent Gap
Consumer mobile adoption is outpacing mobile marketing talent investment. The central issue facing marketers is the rapid pace of consumer mobile adoption outpacing mobile marketing talent investment as marketers are still at an early stage in proving ROI of mobile marketing investments. Only 16% of marketers out of 250 global marketers surveyed have developed a mobile strategy, according to an October 2012 report from the Chief Marketing Officer Council and 46% of marketers surveyed in this study said they are evaluating the role of mobile in their organizations. One major factor slowing marketers response is proving the ROI case for increasing mobile marketing investments.

Consumer adoption of mobile technology is increasing extremely rapidly. Marketers understand that mobile has opened up a new touch point through which they can engage their customers, but while mobile budgets and programs are on the upswing, they don’t yet come close to matching consumer enthusiasm. By the end of 2012, more than one-half of US online adults owned smartphones — and 45% of US online adults fall into a category Forrester calls “SuperConnecteds”- people who use the mobile Internet at least weekly and who download and use applications and consume news and information on their smartphones.

Marketers are behind in developing mobile organizational strategies.  Most large marketers are spending $1 million to $5 million on mobile marketing today, and 60% of them expect their budgets to increase significantly in 2013. However, the CMO Council’s study findings point to marketers treating mobile as a standalone channel instead of being incorporated into an overall strategy. Additionally, 47% of CMOs said they are not satisfied because of a lack of talent or resources to roll out mobile engagements.

Additional Findings CMO Council Study
“Mobile spend should be an integral part and extension of all marketing and customer relationship investments including customer help, service and support, advertising and custom content delivery, website interactions, word of mouth and search optimization, loyalty and rewards program management, feedback and insight gathering, point-of-sale merchandising and shopper marketing as well as campaign performance measurement,” said Donovan Neale-May, Founder & Executive Director or The CMO Council.

Mobile strategies are still young. More than one-third of marketers say their company has had a mobile strategy for just two years, and another one-third have even less experience with the mobile channel. It’s still early days for most companies with this emerging channel. They’re still figuring out what mobile means to their businesses — which tactics to use, how to use them, and how to staff to support the programs.

Companies are using a variety of talent and staffing approaches to support mobile programs. This increased investment in mobile requires an increase in talent and staffing support — but there’s no one way that companies are staffing fast enough to meet the growing talent needs. Internally, only a small percentage of marketers have hired full-time mobile-dedicated employees, others are having full-time digital marketing teams supporting mobile part-time, and others use contract or freelance employees. One-third of marketers plan to hire more full-time mobile employees, and one-quarter plan to hire more contract mobile employees in the next six months…but marketers still rely primarily on agencies and part-timers.

Many firms are turning to their agencies to help them navigate this opportunity. Currently, marketers work with an average of three external agencies for mobile marketing. One-quarter of them use anywhere from four to 15 or more. And these agencies are only working on execution — the majority of companies are working with their traditional brand agency, or digital and mobile agencies, to help them incorporate mobile into their overall plans.

Some marketers are making acquisitions to quickly scale the mobile talent gaps.  One of the most important strategic staffing decisions CIOs and CMOs will make this year is deciding how to meet their mobile development needs. Most companies have leaned on specialist firms and don’t have first-rate mobile development skills in-house. Now they must decide if that approach will cut it as smartphone and tablet platforms become as indispensable as the Web in engaging customers. The Financial Times decided that relying on a contractor wasn’t good enough and they acquired Web app developer Assanka.Walmart also acquired the 13-person mobile development firm Smart Society in 2012, as well as other mobile and social acquisitions including Kosmix and Grabble. These strategic mobile acquisitions by large marketers underscores the challenge large companies face in scaling mobile talent acquisition once the ROI case for mobile has been proven.

Where Does Your Company Stand?
Where is your company in terms of developing a mobile marketing strategy, and hiring/developing the talent required for sustained success? While this may feel like the early days of online marketing, the difference is the rate of acceleration in mobile advertising and m-commerce will be faster than any previous new media channel we have experienced. If you are behind the curve, as many companies are, it’s time to act now.

Blog Roundup: Did you catch these recent posts on our blog?

BLOG:  Mobile Marketing 2013 Forum Recap – What You Need to Know!

The MMA-NY 2013 Forum filled the Marriott Marquis Hotel in NYC for 3 days, the eye-opening information, the program/content was excellent, and both the attendees and presenters confirmed MOBILE is rapidly becoming the next NEW media channel. These are exciting times for both the advertiser and consumer alike. …Read more

Career Announcements

Chief Marketing Officer
Managing Director, Alliance Sales Lead
Managing Director, Social Media Offering Lead
Managing Director, Investment Banking
Senior Executive – Financial Services

Learn more.

Filed Under: Connections E-Zine, Digital Proficiency, Executive Coaching, Executive Talent, Marketing Conferences & Events, New Executive Search, Personal Branding

CONNECTIONS Ezine: Issue No. 59

In this issue:

  • In Our Opinion:  Proving the ROI Business Case For Mobile Marketing/Social Media Investment
  • Blog Roundup:
    • Join Jeff Gundersen at MMA-NY Forum 2013 in NYC on Wed, May 8
    • Become a Champion of Innovation
    • Online ID Survey Update
  • Career Announcements: Digital Consulting, Investment Banking & Financial Services

In Our Opinion

Proving the ROI Business Case For Mobile Marketing/Social Media Investment
by Jeff Gundersen & Lola White

It is clear as we are in the early stages of Q2, the economy is growing more rapidly than economists projected just a few months ago. CEO confidence is improving and companies are investing (in marketing and related technology investments) to build their businesses globally.

Consumer attention is increasingly being drawn to their mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.), however as marketing is rapidly shifting toward greater digital/social media/mobile initiatives, most companies are still in the early stages of mobile marketing and social media strategy development. One of the biggest challenges for marketers is proving the ROI business case for mobile marketing/social media investment (including staffing and marketing technology infrastructure investments). As a result, marketers are falling behind in evolving beyond basic mobile/social marketing strategies to building the dedicated mobile marketing/social media organizations and recruiting/developing the talent (in several functional areas) required for sustained future mobile marketing/social media growth and success.

MMA (Mobile Marketing Association) is contemplating creating a Mobile Talent Task Force to further the conversation (including all constituencies – marketers, agencies, media companies, technology suppliers, educators) regarding the specific current and future mobile talent needs (and gaps) in the current marketplace and to develop future industry standards and “best practices” related to education, hiring, training, and development of the future mobile marketing talent needed for enterprises to sustain success in this new, connected mobile marketing age.

A special workshop has been scheduled on Wed., May 8th at 8:30am as part of the pre-conference program at MMA-NY 2013 Forum. Brand marketers registering for this session will be eligible for a complimentary registration to the entire MMA-NY conference (May 9-10), so we invite all interested parties to check out this program.

Contributing to the current efforts by marketers to prove the business case (ROI) for mobile marketing and social media, we have attached an interesting article from BazaarVoice on “Real ROI From Social In 5 Steps.”

According to BazaarVoice, the 5 critical steps include:

  1. Be social where shoppers are buying.
  2. Enable conversations that help consumers buy.
  3. Get found with fresh consumer content
  4. Use multiple paths to show ROI
  5. Measure your social mix to optimize results

Proving the business ROI case for mobile marketing and social media investments is one of the top priorities/challenges currently facing CMOS. As a follow-up we are requesting our readers provide feedback on other current articles and studies related to proving ROI from mobile marketing and social media.

Blog Roundup: Did you catch these recent posts on our blog?

BLOG:  Join Jeff Gundersen at MMA-NY Forum 2013 in NYC on Wed, May 8
Please join Jeff Gundersen, Co-Chair, MMA Talent Task Force, in NYC on Wed, May 8 from 8:45am-9:30am at MMA-NY Forum 2013 for a COMPLIMENTARY session Jeff is moderating:

Mobile Marketing Talent Needs – Immediate & Long-Term – Strategies for Identifying and Filling Talent & Skill Gaps in Today’s Mobile Driven Marketplace

…Read more

BLOG: Become a Champion of Innovation
Spring has brought forth a spirit of new beginnings, and as we look at what’s new and what skills we can add leverage or  focus on in the next quarter, we believe the emphasis should be on how to champion innovation within your business. …Read more

Online ID Survey Update  
Congrats to our lucky Personal Brand Makeover winner! Stay tuned… for announcement in weeks to come!

Career Announcements

Chief Marketing & Communications Officer – NEW – details to come
Managing Director, Alliance Sales Lead
Managing Director, Social Media Offering Lead
Managing Director, Investment Banking
Senior Executive – Financial Services

Learn more.

Filed Under: Connections E-Zine, Executive Coaching, New Executive Search, Personal Branding

CONNECTIONS Ezine: Issue No. 58

In this issue:

  • In Our Opinion:  Mobile Marketing Talent Needs – Immediate & Long Term
  • Blog Roundup:
    • Build Endurance for Maximum Performance
    • Managing Change: Respond Instead of React
    • Survey: The Results of Our Online ID Survey
  • Career Announcements:  Digital Consulting, Investment Banking & Financial Services

In Our Opinion: Mobile Marketing Talent Needs – Immediate & Long Term

by Jeff Gundersen & Lola White

We recently teamed up with Michael Becker, Managing Director, North America of the Mobile Marketing Association (“MMA”) to launch a new, industry-wide mobile talent (and skills) initiative which we would like to share with you since mobile is one of the newest, fastest growing areas of marketing and advertising spending in 2013.

[Read more…] about CONNECTIONS Ezine: Issue No. 58

Filed Under: Connections E-Zine, Executive Coaching, New Executive Search, Uncategorized

CONNECTIONS Ezine: Issue No. 57

In this issue:

  • In Our Opinion:  Bring On The Sequester!
  • Blog Roundup:
    • Are You Ready To Work for Private Equity?
    • Are You a Digitally & Socially Proficient or Deficient CMO?
    • Survey: Online Identity Update – Contest Ends March 5th
  • Career Announcements:  Healthcare, Investment Banking & Financial Services

In Our Opinion: Bring On The Sequester!

by Jeff Gundersen & Lola White

From our vantage point, we are seeing hopeful signs of progress early in 2013 with a number of business sectors advancing and hiring new C-level talent to fuel their global growth strategies. EC made two senior-level executive placements in January and we are working on three new senior-level global search assignments all related to clients expanding and growing global businesses!

In our opinion, all the current hype, hysteria and fear-mongering regarding the coming sequester deadline ($85 Billion in Federal government spending cuts will automatically begin being implemented as of March 1st) is just the U.S. government reminding the business sector they are collectively not doing their jobs. The dysfunction of our government leaders and their unwillingness to face the hard choices in making spending cut decisions is clearly concerning to  the vast majority of CEOs we speak with regularly. Once again, we are experiencing our government getting in the way of business instead of doing their jobs, and their inaction threatens the current recovery.

There is something fundamentally wrong about the media messages we are receiving from Washington as they continue “politics as usual.” I say bring on the sequester cuts, they are desperately needed now, and cutting into our huge deficit spending will give the business sector the confidence the government is heading in the right direction and this will enhance the chances of a sustained economic recovery.

In yesterday’s (2/27/2013)  WSJ, Phil Gramm authored an article entitled “Obama and the Sequester Scare“ in which he writes, “The president’s response to the sequester demonstrates how out of touch he is with the real world of working families. Even after the sequester, the federal government will spend $15 billion more than it did last year, and 30% more than it spent in 2007. Government spending on non-defense discretionary programs will be 19.2% higher and spending on defense will be 13.8% higher than it was in 2007.” So clearly, even if we proceed with $85 Billion in across the board budget cuts, we will not be in the dire straights some government officials are projecting.”

The federal government needs to take a page out of the corporate handbook. BOA just announced 17,000 layoffs, Time Inc. recently announced 2,000+ layoffs, and major staffing and expense reductions are major tools in the corporate playbook when economic conditions change and tough actions and decisions are warranted.

Clearly, the world is watching (including China which is holding most of the U.S. debt) and waiting for the U.S. to do the responsible thing. Whether it happens through reasonable compromise (unlikely this week) or automatic sequester cuts, reigning in federal government spending we can no longer afford is a critical element to a long-term, sustained economic recovery.

Blog Roundup: Did you catch these recent posts on our blog?

Are You Ready To Work for Private Equity?

As an executive search firm with a specialization in digital marketing, we obtain 20%+ of our assignments through introductions by private equity firms to their portfolio companies needing a CEO, CMO, CRO, CFO or other C-level positions. We are always looking for candidates who meet the needs of our clients and in particular…Read more

Are You a Digitally & Socially Proficient or Deficient CMO?

With digital marketing, social media, mobile advertising and marketing budgets growing at a compound rate of more than 20% annually, what steps are you taking as a CMO to build and develop your personal brand in an increasingly digital, social, and mobile marketing world?… Read more

Survey:  Online Identity Update – Hurry…Contest Ends March 5th

As we continue to provide offerings that meet the evolving needs of our executive clients, we created this survey related to how executives manage their online reputation. Here are preliminary results highlights to date:

  • 87% agree that their online identity plays a part in securing new roles and/or clients
  • 57% report that their biggest challenge in building their online brand is knowing the right tools to utilize
  • 85% agree that they should be investing more time in managing their online reputation

Here’s what else we know…Read more

Career Announcements

VP, Marketing Intelligence — Global Healthcare – NEW
VP, Digital/Social Marketing – Global Healthcare – NEW
Managing Director, Investment Banking
Senior Executive – Financial Services

Learn more.

Filed Under: Announcements, Connections E-Zine, New Executive Search, Personal Branding

CONNECTIONS Ezine: Issue No. 56

In this issue:

  • In Our Opinion:  Technology Sector Leads Recovery in 2013
  • Blog Roundup:  What Is Your Personal Brand Value?  Online Identity Survey Update
  • Placement Announcement:  Gridley & Co.
  • Career Announcements:  Investment Banking & Financial Services

In Our Opinion:  Technology Sector Leads Recovery in 2013

by Jeff Gundersen & Lola White

It is fitting that we begin to kick start each new year by attending various meetings and conferences with a primary focus on themes and trends and the Gridley & Company Annual M&A Conference is always a good resource for us.  We are keen to hear Linda Gridley’s digital industry outlook followed by presentations from 50+ CEOs of Mobile, Social, Performance-based Marketing, e-Commerce, Payments, Financial Technology, e-Mail Marketing, and Marketing Automation companies, entrepreneurs and thought leaders.

It’s No Surprise What’s Hot…

What we hear is that digital continues to be the “hot” sector as evidenced by the NASDAQ gaining 15.9% in 2012 and outpacing market cap growth in both the S&P (13.4%) and Dow (7.3%). Dismal performances by newcomers Facebook (-30%), Groupon (-76%) and Zynga (-75%) notwithstanding, winners (43) far outpaced losers (12) including strong gains from more traditional internet companies including AOL (+96%), eBay (+68%) and Expedia (+118%). All these facts and figures are compliments of the Gridley’s Digital Dealings Compass Newsletter (Jan. 14, 2013).

Perhaps most impressive is the internet and overall stock market gains were accomplished in spite of European and US economic crises including “a U.S. Congress filled with fractious and quarrelsome representatives in Washington DC with seemingly no ability to negotiate bi-partisan deals.” While these governmental financial crises continue to present threats in 2013, the markets appear to be discounting the possibility we (US) will actually drive off any fiscal cliffs.

“Connectivity” Raises the Stakes for Marketers in More Ways than One

The strongest overall theme we heard from Linda, other CEOs, and Analysts is 2013 will be “The Year of Social and Mobile.” Forrester Research advised us we are now in the Age of the Consumer (we just completed the Information Age) where advances in Social and Mobile technologies and connectivity have placed consumers firmly in charge of purchase decisions and shopping options through multiple online and offline channels accessible through multiple devices.

In fact 44% of e-mail messages are opened on mobile devices (phones and tablets), and the development of new devices in these categories (i.e. including “Phablets” – phones with screens twice the size of the original iPhone), suggests mobile advertising will grow exponentially despite previous concerns regarding screen size. These new mobile technology and connectivity changes have raised the stakes for marketers, and in addition to previous consumer demographic data, and purchase data, analytics must now integrate additional “context” information about consumers (i.e., location, social networks) and these factors must be integrated into determining the timing and content of marketing offers.

Are You Really Prepared for 2013 and Beyond?

This should make 2013 another exciting year in the global transformation of the marketing and marketing services sectors. With global digital media at 20% share and rising, we are seeing an increasing demand for Chief Digital Officers and Heads of Social/Mobile Marketing. This is critical since almost one-half of the top 100 Global Advertisers have not yet built their Digital/Social organization with the senior-level talent to strategically manage and direct these rapidly increasing budgets.

 

Blog Roundup

Did you catch these recent posts on our blog?

What Is Your Personal Brand Value?

We are approaching the time of year when annual bonuses (both short-term cash incentives and long-term options/restricted stock) are being paid out and the incomes of CEOs and senior officers in public companies are disclosed. It’s the perfect time to ask yourself, “What’s the value of my personal brand and how beneficial is my current company (and industry sector) as a vehicle to increasing my brand value over time?”  Read more

Online Identity Survey Update

As we continue to provide offerings that meet the evolving needs of our executive clients, we created this survey related to how executives manage their online reputation. Here are preliminary results highlights:

  • 87% agree that their online identity plays a part in securing new roles and/or clients
  • 57% report that their biggest challenge in building their online brand is knowing the right tools to utilize
  • 85% agree that they should be investing more time in managing their online reputation

Read more

Placement Announcement

EC is pleased to announce the placement of John Burns III in the role of VP, Investment Banking at  Gridley & Company in NYC. John previously held a similar VP-level position at Palazzo Investment Banking and earlier he was a Senior Analyst at AdMedia Partners.  As part of his hiring by Gridley & Co., John will be receiving EC’s unique one-on-one Transition Support Coaching to assist him in exceeding expectations in this new Gridley career opportunity. John joined Gridley & Co. on January 14, 2013 just prior to Gridley’s 12th Annual Conference at The Plaza in NYC.

Gridley & Company is a boutique investment banking firm, providing advisory services to companies in the Internet & Information Services industry. Gridley specializes in AdTech, Data Services, Digital Marketing, E-Commerce, Mobile, Social, Payments & Financial Technology, and Traditional Marketing & Media Services.

Career Announcements

Global Head of Digital/Social Marketing – Healthcare Client — NEW
Managing Director, Investment Banking
Senior Executive – Financial Services

Learn more.

 

Filed Under: Connections E-Zine, LinkedIn, Personal Branding, Recommended Articles, Spotlight On

CONNECTIONS Ezine: Issue No. 55

In this issue:

  • In Our Opinion: 2013 Brand Planning
  • Blog Roundup (LinkedIn Endorsements, Online ID Survey)
  • Client Spotlight: James Brett
  • Career Announcements

In Our Opinion: 2013 Brand Planning

by Jeff Gundersen & Lola White

On behalf of our colleagues at Executive Connections LLC, we begin by sending all our clients and friends best wishes for a Happy Holiday season!

Especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which devastated so many families, we invite you to join us in making a year-end donation to the Red Cross (www.RedCross.org/HurricaneSandy) or another non-profit offering assistance to families in need.

Now is the ideal time to start planning to reach your goals for 2013. At EC, we believe personal brand development is one of the keys to creating a strong reputation on- and off-line, and this requires an active, ongoing personal brand management process.

[Read more…] about CONNECTIONS Ezine: Issue No. 55

Filed Under: Connections E-Zine, Personal Branding

CONNECTIONS Ezine: Issue 54

In this issue:

  • Thanks and Giving are Good for Branding
  • Blog Roundup (Spotlight on Craig Wood, DMA 2012)
  • Survey: Your Online Identity
  • Career Announcements

In Our Opinion

Thanks and Giving are Good for Branding

by Jeff Gundersen & Lola White

The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated. —William James

With the Thanksgiving holiday this week, we would like to express our personal “thank you” to all of EC’s connections—clients, friends, our business colleagues, and emerging members of our personal and professional network. We’ve been honored to reinvigorate and clarify career and personal brand directions for those we’ve touched this year, most especially with those who have experienced the power of our new Personal Branding Retreat Center.

Each year, we take our own offsite retreat to reflect on this year in business and to plan for the upcoming one. An important part of our mission is to “be the brand you want others to see.” For us, this also includes the focused charitable work we do and being a business growth catalyst to those personal brands we believe will have a great positive influence on others.

At this time of year, we encourage you to reflect on for what you are thankful and for what you can continue to give. Here is some food for thought:

[Read more…] about CONNECTIONS Ezine: Issue 54

Filed Under: Connections E-Zine, Getting Hired in Digital Marketing

CONNECTIONS Ezine: Issue 53

In this issue:

  • Innovations in Advertising & Media
  • Blog Roundup
  • Career Announcements

In Our Opinion

Innovations in Advertising & Media

by Jeff Gundersen

We are witnessing the positive impacts of technology everywhere in our lives. The game-changing industry revolutions Steve Jobs championed in personal computers, music, and consumer electronics have resulted in a new generation of smart phones, tablets, and PCs which are sleeker, faster, cheaper, and offer greater consumer convenience and mobility. So why are so many people surprised this kind of innovation has finally hit the Advertising industry, a place long overdue for adapting?

Advertising Week 2012 has become, as one speaker suggested, the equivalent of the Consumer Electronics Show for technology fanatics, and I recently had the opportunity to attend.

Best Innovative Ideas from Advertising Week 2012

As a marketing executive talent management firm in constant search of excellence, we wanted to share some of the standout comments we heard at this conference: [Read more…] about CONNECTIONS Ezine: Issue 53