THENETWORKONE: “RECESSION IS TIME FOR INDEPENDENTS TO THRIVE”

Hear Barack Obama’s digital guru speak in Europe for the first time at Cannes Festival

Meet the world’s best independent agencies at thenetworkone Agency Showcase

http://www.thenetworkone.com

thenetworkone, the global independent agency organisation, is bringing together the world’s hottest independent agencies at the 2009 Cannes Lions Advertising Festival.  Its annual Agency Showcase will this year highlight how the best independent agencies have changed the way they do business, to meet the new needs of today’s marketing clients – and are seizing the benefits.

A keynote address by thenetworkone president, Julian Boulding, will use the event’s theme, “Change & Reinvention”, to hammer home how the recession is a critical turning point for independents, which are being gifted the opportunity to lead the industry into a new dawn of creative internationalism and understanding of consumer behaviour.

Boulding has brought together three of the most talked-about international agencies to present their take on the Change & Reinvention theme at a seminar on Tuesday, 23 June.

Delegates will hear the first European address by Barack Obama’s agency, SS+K, which is credited with winning the US President’s youth vote.  Bradley Kay, President and Partner of the New York-based shop, will talk about the science of change and how its work on the Obama campaign applied behavioural science to persuasion.

Brazil’s Santa Clara Advertising agency has made a quantum leap in creativity, as the agency everyone wants to work for in South America.  Fernando Campos, Partner and Creative Director, will share how the Sao Paulo agency’s working environment -- based in a fashion designer’s villa, surrounded by palm trees -- has sparked the continent’s most talked-about work.

Over one dramatic weekend, Forsman & Bodenfors changed into an agency designed for  success in the digital era.  Over two decades the Swedish international shop has scooped two dozen Cannes Lions for its creativity and, following its reinvention, became Media Agency of the Year for the first time.  Hear how Filip Nilsson, executive creative director and chairman, has managed change and is capitalising on the downturn affecting others.

Julian Boulding, President of thenetworkone, said: “The communications industry is mid-correction and while networks are in retreat, it’s the time for independent agencies to set the pace and the agenda -- the recession is a time for independents to thrive. All our Cannes Lions’ speakers have changed and reinvented themselves.  Three very different stories that are as inspirational as they are innovative and a must-hear lesson – for multinationals, as well as other independents.”

thenetworkone 2009 Independent Agency Showcase takes place on Tuesday, 23 June at 3pm in the Debussy theatre, at the Cannes Lions Festival.   The event is followed by a networking event at Plage Le Goeland, two minutes walk from the Palais, which journalists and agency delegates are invited to attend.

Julian Boulding said: “Today’s agency may not be tomorrow’s, so clients rely on us to know where the best talent in the world is - then hire them.  The world is full of great agencies but clients don’t always know where to find them – that’s where we come in.”
For more information contact Mark Terry-Lush or Naomi Attard on  +44 (0)1452 760 147 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

ABOUT THENETWORKONE
thenetworkone, founded in 2003 and headquartered in London, is the world’s leading independent agency organisation, representing more than 300 best-in-class independent agencies and communications specialists, in 65 countries worldwide. thenetworkone custom builds international agency networks, according to the individual needs or marketing clients and their lead agencies. thenetworkone publishes ‘The World’s Leading Independent Agencies’ and frequently speaks at international advertising conferences, including hosting the “Independent Agency Showcase” at the annual Cannes Advertising Festival. thenetworkone’s clients include: Johnson & Johnson, Nokia Vertu, Exxon Mobil, Glenfiddich, Lutron, Dyson, Prudential and many others.

For more information contact:
Julian Boulding, President, on +44 (0) 207 240 7117 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Or
Paul Squirrell, Network Director, on +44 (0) 207 240 7117 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

http://www.thenetworkone.com
http://www.leadingindependents.com