ISBA and IPA lobby for best practice pitching

A new global portal for information and sharing of practices on agency pitches has been launched as part of a collaborative project between agencies and clients. 

Developed by ISBA (Incorporated Society of British Advertisers) and the IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising), the site is designed to bring to life the six pitch principles said organisations launched earlier this year.  The site features background research conducted into client and agency pitching habits and costs, senior industry talking heads, ideas and suggestions for new ways to conduct pitches, best practice guidelines, details of pitch initiatives created in international markets and training suggestions. Central to the new resource is a blog, allowing industry discussion and debate.

Joint IPA new business & marketing group chair Helen Weisinger, chief marketing officer at McCann London and Mark Robinson, marketing director at Grey London said they were thrilled that the site allows the conversations around pitching to continue.
"It is only by continuing the debate that we can improve on the current 'one size (seemingly) fits all' model," they said. "The site is loaded with great information, including the IPA/ISBA pitch principles and alternative ways to pitch.  We hope clients and agencies alike take the time to use it. We are confident that those that do will save themselves time and money."

Debbie Morrison, ISBA's director of consultancy and best practice said they were excited about providing a platform for people to get involved in the debate.
"Our ambition is that The Good Pitch will in the long-term help to raise standards of pitch practice, stimulate thought and provide process guidance for anyone considering changing agencies," she said.

Senior clients and agencies that have contributed to the site include;

• Andy Bolden, European Media Director, GSK
• Bridget Angear, Head of Planning, AMV BBDO
• Chris Hirst, CEO, Grey London
• Chris Macdonald, CEO, McCann London
• David Wethey, Agency Assessments
• Debbie Morrison, Director of Consultancy & Best Practice, ISBA
• Dominic Grounsell, Marketing Director, Capital One
• Duncan MacCallum, Marketing Mentor and Communications Consultant at MacC Comms Ltd and Former Head of Marketing, Nestlé
• Hamish Pringle, Former Director General, IPA
• Jo Wardle, New Business, IPA
• Joe Clift, Brand & Customer Marketing Director, Lloyds Banking Group
• Lee Leggett, CEO, Dare
• Marc Nohr, CEO, Kitcatt Nohr Digitas
• Mark Given, Brand Director, Heineken UK
• Mark Lund, Managing Partner, NOW agency and Former CEO, COI
• Mark Robinson, Marketing Director, Grey London
• Paul Graham, Founder, Anomaly
• Paul Phillips, Managing Director, AAR
• Philippa Brown, CEO, Omnicom Media Group
• Richard Woodford, Category Manager (Advertising and Marketing), News International
• Simon Tilden, Global Category Director, Diageo
• Tom George, CEO, MEC
• Helen Weisinger, CMO, McCann London
• Barry Mellor, Category Manager, Marketing & Sales O2 Procurement
• Catherine Woolfe, Head of Advertising & Brand Strategy, E.ON UK
• Judy Mitchem, Chief Marketing Officer, Ogilvy Group UK
• Nick Fox, Chief Client Officer, DDB UK
• Nick Hudson, Head of Marketing, Heineken UK
• Nicola Young, Director of Marketing Communications & Insight, Molson Coors Brewing Company
• Nicola Mendelsohn, IPA President and Chairman and Partner, Karmarama
• Nigel Gilbert, Chief Marketing Officer, Virgin Media
• Ottokar Rosenberger, UK Country Manager, eHarmony UK Ltd
• Paul Graham, Partner, Anomaly
• Pippa Glucklich, Managing Director, Arena Media
• Rachel Bristow, Media Director UK & Ireland, Unilever
• Richard Woodford, Category Manager, Marketing & Advertising, News International
• Sara Bennison, Marketing Communications Director, Barclays
• Stephen Woodford, Chairman & CEO, DDB UK
• Stephen Maher, CEO, Maher Bird Associates LLP
• Tim Irwin, Managing Director, Maxus Global
• Traci Dunne, Consultancy Manager, ISBA
• Will Abbott, Marketing & Communications Director, Freeset