Frost/Sorrell
Bitch has been quite impressed by WPP media agency MEC of late. Not only has the agency been shortlisted for the hotly-contested Media Week Award for Agency of the Year, but it is now moving into the content space, with its latest commissioned programming being an interview between two media titans, Sir David Frost and Sir Martin Sorrell.
Brought together by former TV producer, director, commissioner and now MEC’s head of branded content, Chantal Rickards, the interview took place at ITV Studios on the set of the new Jonathan Ross show.
Chantal spent a period as the executive producer of ‘Through the Keyhole’, which was hosted by Frost for ITV, Sky and BBC1 (but Bitch mostly remembers it for Lloyd Grossman’s outrageous accent).
Some of the topics being discussed included Sir Martin’s upbringing and early influences, the changes technology might bring to media buying, what MEC brings to WPP and what he thinks are the most exciting media advances.
Following this, Sir Martin took questions from the floor as well as from other MEC offices across the world via Twitter, email and text. The session ended with closing remarks from MEC’s chief, Steve Hatch, and was broadcast to 84 offices across the MEC global network.
Bitch is not old enough to remember Sir David’s most infamous interview with disgraced US President Richard Nixon, but is sure he had a much more pleasant time with Sir Martin, and is sure that the WPP boss at no time had to defend himself, declaring "I am not a crook", as Tricky Dicky famously did.
Afterwards Sir Martin was snapped having a glass of fizz with Sir David, Chantal and MEC managing director Stuart Bowden...Bitch is sure they deserved it.
"You must be some kind of...ahem... superstar"
Bitch is all for celebrities choosing a new career path and applauds them on the whole for doing it.
That’s why she was pleased to hear that former chart-topper Jamelia has found herself a little temp job now that the hits are not so forthcoming.
The "award-winning singer, actress, model", according to Choice FM, the Global Radio station.
The Brummie singer, who had hits with ‘Superstar’ and ‘See it in a Boy’s Eyes’, will join Choice Breakfast’s Kojo from today, for a fortnight from 6am to 9am, about the same hours you have to do a paper round, but Bitch is guessing this gig is much more lucrative.
Good luck girl. Jamelia fills in for regular presenter and girl about town, Max, and said: "Although I'm a little nervous, to be on with one of my good friends Kojo, makes it a little less daunting."
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars
Bitch was sorry to miss the 50th birthday party for CEO of Propeller PR Martin Loat, which she hears was attended by several media luminaries including the thoroughly charming Mark "Chips" Chippendale, former commercial director of CBS Outdoor (and out on the market again), David Mansfield director of the investment company Ingenious Media, Edward Lloyd-Barnes the CEO of ComFederation, and even the founder of Innocent Drinks, Richard Reed.
The do was held at private members' club Adam Street, with a good time had by all, including, it has to be said, at least one northern journalist who shall not be named, turning up suitably "refreshed" from a previous meeting, and almost ending in the gutter outside.
Martin himself looked rather dapper in his usual uniform of cravat, but steered clear of his infamous crushed velvet jacket, according to one of the guests, who was overheard saying "he thinks he’s auditioning for an Oscar Wilde play."
Terrible that being smart nowadays attracts that kind of reaction, but maybe a tie wouldn't kill you once in a while Mr Loat.
Until next week my little meeja types. Ciao xxx
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