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APG News
Upcoming
EVENTS
'How To' Get the Most Out of your Strategy Skills (with Will Humphrey)
13th May | 5pm-6pm BST | Online
'How To' Get the Proposition Right (with Michael Lee)
15th May | 6pm-7pm BST | Online
(more info coming soon)
Get the Best Out of AI Series:
Session 2: AI, ethics and advertising
21st May | 5pm-6pm BST | Online
Session 3: Building a Brand in an AI World
11th June | 5pm-6pm | Online
Session 4: Synthetic Data and Simulations
9th July | 5pm-6pm BST | Online
Session 5: Reimagined Consumers
17th Sept | 5-6pm BST | Online
Session 6: Future Proofing Your Career
15th Oct | 5pm-6pm BST | Hybrid
ONLINE TRAINING COURSES
Sign up any time
Strategic Masterclasses with Craig+Bridget SOLD OUT
1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th May
13th, 14th, 15th & 16th May
9th, 10th, 11th & 12th September
WORKSHOPS
Get the Best Out of AI
(with Oli Feldwick)
This series of talks and discussions is designed to go deeper into specific AI topics that have a direct relevance to the practice of Planning and Strategy. The format will include participation and a group exercise, along with a decent time for question & answer & discussion.
The sessions will be co-hosted by Oli Feldwick, joined by guest hosts throughout the series. Our initial run of 6 sessions will end with a hybrid virtual and physical session and a chance to meet up and connect.
The APG A-Z:
Creative Strategy in 26 Videos
The APG A-Z is a series of 26 short and inspiring videos that are designed to give you all the basics for a proper understanding of the practice of planning and strategy. Whether you’re just starting out in an agency - be it in advertising, media, social, design, whatever - and have planner or strategist in your title, or you work for a client or research company and have a professional interest in strategy, this course is for you to do in your own time.
Beth Barry
We are saddened to announce the death of Beth Barry on 12th February 2024. Beth was a brilliant researcher and planner. With Lee Taylor, Beth led the Ogilvy and Mather Planning Department in the 1990’s and served as APG Chair from 1994 to 1996. She was also the founder of the awards now known as the APG Creative Strategy Awards. She thought it was essential that the contribution of planners was publicly documented and celebrated as much as the creative work they helped to inspire. These awards go from strength to strength and are a fundamental part of her legacy.
I would like to thank Lee Taylor, her work partner and friend for the following words in her memory, and in celebration of her unique qualities.
Sarah Newman
APG Director
A word from the APG's new
Co-Chairs
Think of a planner. What image comes to mind? Ironic notebook? Quiet demeanour? Statement glasses? You probably conjured one of these, right?
There’s a lingering stereotype that planners are introverted intellectuals who prefer to work solo. Of course it’s a cliché for a reason. Many strategic thinkers would choose time and space to mull over a problem or an idea....
We are delighted to announce the winners for the 2023 Creative Strategy Awards
The Planning team at Leo Burnett carried away the Grand Prix for McDonald’s ‘Raise Your Arches’; a spectacular demonstration of transformational creative strategy.
adam&eveDDB were crowned Stephen King Strategy Agency of the year.
In the year where we had the highest ever number of entries, it’s a real accolade to win a prize and the winning cases are brilliant. And if you’re an APG member you can read the cases on Think Tank.
Jim Carroll's Blog
Yoko Ono: ‘A Dream You Dream Together is Reality’
Each week we will be featuring a new piece written by Jim Carroll, a long serving strategist and former UK Chairman at BBH. Click through to read more and subscribe.
'How To' get the most out of your strategy skills
(with Will Humphrey)
13th May | 5pm-6pm BST | Online
Creative strategy can be the best job in the world, not least because the skills you learn as a brand planner are so transportable.
The APG is doing an occasional series of events where we talk to strategists who have taken their skills into new areas to find out which skills they brought with them, how they apply them, what new things they have learned and how they think other people can benefit from their experience.
Will Humphrey was a strategist in agencies for 15 years, working in different manifestations of the planning discipline and in a variety of excellent agencies. He left his most recent role at Wunderman Thompson two years ago and jumped ship to McKinsey. He has some fascinating insights into the difference between life in agencies and the ‘The Firm’ and how he has been shaped by the experience to date.
ITV Head First Award
A mental health & wellbeing initiative
Carolyn McCall launched ITV Head First at this year’s ITV Palooza. This competition asks brands to join ITV and communicate to the nation the importance of taking steps towards better mental health and wellbeing, through the creation of an on-air spot.
The total prize fund is £2 million of airtime - with the winner being awarded £1 million and ITV offering to match-fund the other four shortlisted entries up to £250k each, in order to get as many representative campaigns on air as possible. The award will be chaired by Sheila Mitchell CBE, former Marketing Director for Public Health England who was the architect behind Every Mind Matters.
What is in APG Think Tank?
The clue is in the name. It’s the place on the APG site where we bring together all the precious bits of strategic learning that can help you navigate a tricky problem, give you fresh inspiration or just wake up your jaded planning brain when you need help but don’t know where else to go.
To get a taster of how excellent these resources are for members, we’re giving you the chance to download one example of each for free. You’re welcome!’