How we think
With increasing audiences, decreasing sales forces, exploding communications options and falling budgets, how does the besieged marketeer know how much of the old marketing mix to retain, how much of the new to use, and how to tie it all together?
The now dominant network-owned agencies try to find economies by shoe horning clients into their standardised offerings.
We, however, do not subscribe to a one
size fits all solution.
While Seven Stones has the scale of network agency, our independence means that network priorities do not shape our approach to integration. Such media neutrality, in terms of planning and the generating of ideas, helps us build the strongest brand experience for our clients’ customers.
And because we don’t have to worry about Wall Street, we are free to provide the necessary encouragement and environment to get the best from our staff so that they
can do the best for our clients.
The Chairman
Alex Perryman
Alex is not your typical chairman. For a start she’s a woman.
She started Seven Stones 20 years ago, after noticing that the pharmaceutical industry tended to complicate the already complex. Alex believes we should find out all that we can, and then simplify, simplify, simplify – which makes her very curious and demanding. In a good way, of course.
To this day, Alex asks: why?
The Planning Director
Dominic Owens
Dominic knows his Good to Talk from his Vorsprung durch Technik.
That’s because he’s spent many years as both client and brand expert in the consumer world, before having the good sense to defect to healthcare. It makes him one of the most client-facing strategists around. But, more than this, he’s also relentlessly energetic and results-obsessed.
When Alex asks why, Dom asks: why not?
The Creative Director
Justin Earl
Justin lets the work do the talking. Apart from when he’s talking about the work.
He and his team use creativity to ensure our clients are heard above the noise of their competition, be it via an ad, an app, or anything in between. Justin demands creativity, whatever the medium – not for egocentric reasons, but because it has the power to sell. He’s being doing it for 14 years.
Justin asks not will it win awards, but: will it sell product?
The Development Director
Julian Calderara
Julian’s here to help us develop – our people, our practice, our product.
And he knows a thing or two about development, too. Julian’s first job was at Waitrose, stacking shelves on a Saturday. He renewed his relationship with John Lewis, many years later, becoming their first ‘ad man’ and helping transform their business over 14 years. In between, he worked as an account handler for some of the most famous global brands, local challenger brands, and everything in between. Before moving to Seven Stones, Julian helped run Touch DDB – the award-winning integrated agency.
Julian asks: who’s making the tea?
The Digital Director
James Klymowsky
James is our head of digital. But he doesn't see the world in binary code.
Because for all his technical knowledge and love of innovation, James is motivated by the importance of communication and his natural curiosity.
He took his first Apple computer apart to make it work faster...aged 7.
He asks not how we can tell people things, but how we might bring them to our clients' brands.
The Research Director
Louise Tamblin
Louise tells stories.
That’s because she understands that while data is dull and tables are tiresome, everyone loves a good story. They stick in the mind, make you think and can even inspire action. So she and the research team pore over the words and numbers in order to identify the main characters and action so far, before working with clients to plan the next chapter.
So Louise asks, what’s the plot?
The Client Services Director
Vicky Lopez
Vicky is front of house because all service businesses need to look after the clients.
But looking after clients doesn't mean giving them what they ask for but finding what they need. And that's something you can only do if you really understand them, their science and their brands.
Stints at NASA and Saatchi helped Vicky learn her skills.
She's the one who asks is this really what our client needs?