For a special Christmas edition of the Uncensored CMO, we've recorded a bonus episode of the Never Mind the Adverts podcast, featuring our good friend Orlando Wood. We talk about some breaking news, have some festive drinks and review some of the best Christmas Ads this year (yes, including that Coke ad). Enjoy.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro
01:10 - The news
03:53 - Orlando’s Christmas Stocking Fillers
09:06 - Drinks trolley
12:38 - Review of the 2024 Christmas Ads
16:45 - A break from the ads
21:03 - Name that ad

Jess Myers CCO of The Very Group, returns to the podcast sharing the success of her role over the past year. We'll explore how Jess and her team navigates the crucial "Golden Quarter" leading up to Christmas, the importance of creative consistency, and the successes they've achieved by sticking with what works. Plus, we'll hear about the innovative launch of the Very Media Group and how their flamingo-themed campaigns resonate with customers.

Jess also sheds light on balancing commercial objectives with customer experience, fostering collaborative relationships, and the unique challenges of her executive role. Whether it's optimizing holiday ads or championing a vibrant company culture, Jess’s insights are sure to inspire.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
01:07 - Jess’ custom merch for the podcast
02:07 - Jess’ review of the year at Very
04:28 - From Chief Marketing Officer to Chief Customer Officer - what’s changed
06:17 - How marketers can thrive in the boardroom
08:53 - Embracing “hun culture”
12:35 - How important the golden quarter is for retailers
15:46 - Why Very chose the run the same campaign at Christmas
21:05 - Why short term is important in the Golden Quarter
28:40 - Launching the Very Media Group
31:03 - Launching House of Flamingo
34:18 - Jess’ learnings from the last year at Very
35:45 - Making the most out of your agencies
39:29 - Closing thoughts

In this episode, we're diving into a fascinating conversation with Sadira Furlow, known as the "Dean of Dopeness" at Tony's Chocolonely. We unpack Sadira's career journey from launching viral campaigns at PepsiCo to driving industry change at Tony's Chocolonely.

We'll explore her admiration for Tony's authentic mission, their innovative approach to storytelling, and how they're reshaping the chocolate industry. Sadira also opens up about her bold career moves, the lessons learned from transitioning between major brands and startups, and her commitment to making a meaningful impact.

Timestamps
00:00 - Intro
01:37 - How Sadira discovered Tony’s
02:01 - Why Sadira is known as the Dean of Dopeness
03:19 - Sadira’s role at Pepsi; Puppy Monkey Baby and Mountain Dew
13:06 - From PepsiCo to a fintech (Happy Money)
16:03 - Making an impact in a product-led organisation
18:24 - Writing your own redundancy case
21:09 - Why Sadira took a 9 month Sabbatical
23:51 - How Sadira got the role at Tony’s
28:11 - The commitment to being a change brand
29:55 - Working with constrained budgets
34:26 - The lawsuit for Tony’s look alike bars
38:27 - The Tony’s advent calendar that caused a stir
39:53 - Using fun and humour to tell a serious story
42:21 - In house vs agencies at Tony’s
43:17 - Tony’s collaboration with The Washington Post
44:25 - Custom branded Tony’s Chocolonely bars
45:46 - The most successful campaigns for Tony’s
47:45 - Where does the brand go from here?
49:55 - What has surprised Sadira most about the brand