I used to help the corporate giants rule the world.
Now I work for Jack, and I'm paid in beans.
"Knowledge is power. The kind of work Graham does is hard to find anywhere else."
Sir John Hegarty
When I'm not writing books about capitalism and climate change I provide Coaching, Research, Insight and Strategy for well-meaning people and brands.
If I can support myself with donations to the book I can offer these services for free to people with good ideas.
The agency I founded (Informer) started small in a loft in Soho in 1994
We set new standards in demystifying, understanding and respecting youth culture.
My insights helped develop some of the most iconic advertising of the 1990's
"Graham's insights were a major contribution to establishing the superstructure of the brilliant Stella Artois campaign in the 1990's, and his innovative approach to understanding broader consumer beliefs, motivations and trends set new standards of creativity."
Adam Kirby
Former head of advertising procurement, Diageo
'The Battle for Seattle'
In 1999 we heard about an anti-capitalist protest that was being organised to coincide with a World Trade Organisation convention in Seattle. So we went to see for ourselves.
Perhaps I'm most proud of our work helping the American Legacy Foundation (nonprofit tobacco control organisation) & Crispin Porter Bogusky
The campaign exposes tobacco industry malpractice - & was named in the top 10 campaigns of the 21st century by AdAge.
I was also an instrumental part of the OK Soda debacle. Ahead of my time (again)
"While OK Soda appears on retrospective lists of failed soft drinks and fluke ad campaigns, analyst Thomas Flight posits that OK Soda may have been "ahead of its time" in its attempts at "brand disillusionment" through its subversion of traditional marketing.[15] For example, Liquid Death has used similar "lifestyle play" marketing techniques with great success.[16] Meanwhile OK Soda's original merchandise, cans and advertising material can still be found readily on eBay with asking prices sometimes in hundreds of U.S. dollars.[17]"
So, yes, I've worked for lots of big brands - all over the world
This is a small sample of the brands we worked with over the years - many in the C-Suite. (hate that phrase)
We also developed perhaps the world's first digital ethnographic study which we syndicated amongst brands and advertising agencies - which, as we said at the time 'Brought the consumer into the boardroom'. (Hate that phrase too.)
By the time we'd finished, we were big in the UK & USA
With offices in London / New York / Miami
(Blue Steel)
Then I was Planning Director of an ad agency on Madison Avenue.
My partner (Sarah) & I lived on Manhattan, married at Niagara, had kids, decided it was time to return to the UK for the sake of my sanity and avoid getting on planes at 5am to make 10am client briefings on the other side of the country.
The kids grew up...
"Suddenly got a profound respect for Christopher Ward."
"So proud to own one right now. Absolutely."
"Aaaaaaand I'm buying this watch because of this ad!"
Since then I've worked on strategic problems with large, small and medium-sized companies.
-Solving workforce and recruitment issues with Screwfix
-Developing Wembley Park's commercial properties with Quintain
-Travelled the world with Suntory inventing new whisky brands
- And writing a highly effective advertising campaign for Christopher Ward watches
(If the work below isn't what you want from your advertising, I don't know what is:)
When I'm not fighting climate change I'm into:
My family, nature, Tiger Lily (left), Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, George Clinton, (in fact, any funky music), Newcastle United, anything by Armando Iannucci or Charlie Brooker, philosophy, taoism, jazz, , blah blah blah
What I'm not into:
Bullies, cruelty to animals (eating / exploiting them), free-market capitalism, religion, grifters who pretend to be passionate about personal freedom but are really only in it for the power, status and money (SPAM) e.g. Farage, Trump, Yaxley-Lennon etc
I'm not a big fan of olives, though I try to like them.
Trying to get my book more widely read: www.hummingbirdeffect.org
People I've worked with
[Marketing Services] - what I do, and how it helps
[How I Do It] - What I actually do!
[My Back Story] - credentials, confessions, & Tiger Lily
