2020 has seen a spate of new agency start-ups but how many will succeed, even survive? MAA’s late business partner Paul Simons had this to say on a similar wave back in 2014. Is new business getting harder for start-ups? ...
Read More »Paul Simons: the ad industry is in danger of sinking under a mountain of meaningless jargon
MAA’s late business partner Paul Simons wrote this nearly five years ago. He was right to ask the question. Today’s answer is, sadly, a resounding yes. I convince myself from time to time that I have lost the plot on ...
Read More »Paul Simons: heroes of adland stalk Soho’s Star & Garter
The Star & Garter is one of London Soho’s famous watering holes and here, in a tribute to late MAA partner Paul Simons, Paul imagines the coincidental return of some of UK adland’s leading lights. I decided to make a ...
Read More »Paul Simons: here’s advertising’s future in the new model era
This is late MAA partner Paul Simons from two years ago, on the changes he saw coming in adland. And they have… If we could stand back from the world and look backwards and forwards we might get a clearer ...
Read More »Paul Simons: the ad that restored my faith in advertising
The latest in our tribute to late MAA partner Paul Simons. It is a rare and pleasant moment when a TV spot breaks through the clutter of creative wallpaper with a storming piece of excellence. Audi does it with its ...
Read More »Paul Simons: is data grail driving WPP’s shotgun marriages?
Here’s another compelling piece in tribute to the late Paul Simons, an MAA partner. On the agency mergers within WPP and the, possibly alarming, realisation that these days data is driving the agency train. The merging of two entities such ...
Read More »Paul Simons: Lee Clow taught me ‘less is more’ at TBWA
MAA partner Paul Simons sadly died last week. In tribute here’s one of his pieces about Lee Clow of TBWA and Apple fame. Lee Clow has decided to hang up his boots after a very long and distinguished career. I ...
Read More »George Parker: Paul Simons was right about some clients
I must say, I was pleased to see that Stephen Foster, in his great wisdom, has promised to re-publish many of Paul Simons past pieces. All are highly recommended. As I commented last week… “Truly sorry to hear the news. ...
Read More »Paul Simons: why Andy Main’s switch to Ogilvy signals a change of course for ocean-going agencies
The late Paul Simons was a former chairman and CEO of Ogilvy London. Here’s his take (from July) on new Ogilvy global boss Andy Main. The news about Andy Main (below) being seduced by WPP to leave Deloitte’s and take ...
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