It is a great pleasure to write to you for the first time as Chair of the MGGB Club and introduce myself and our new season.
For those of you that don’t know me here are a few characteristics you may come to recognise over the year ahead.
- An enthusiastic optimism that 48 hours of work can be done 24;
- A love of great creative talent across marketing, media, sports and music that provokes us to challenge the norm and consider things differently;
- An unfortunate height restriction that can only be overcome by killer heels.
Once again, I would like to thank Mhairi not only for hosting a superb programme of high calibre speakers over the last 12 months but also for leading Council to complete a thorough piece of research into the MGGB brand and members’ thinking, which has resulted in the introduction of the Emeritus membership and in a review and upgrade of our website.
Sincere thanks are also due to the wonderful Clare Russell, our excellent MGGB club administrator. Clare will press the launch button for our refreshed website on August 1st. Please can I ask you all to ensure your biography’s are up to date by our first dinner on September 10th so that the booklets can be printed and ready for our October dinner.
For those that attended the last dinner on July 2nd you will remember I stated I cannot promise to deliver everything that the member’s research has ‘wished for’ but I will certainly try my best. Membership has asked for a programme of events with speakers that reflect diversity, culture, entertainment, the famous, the entrepreneurial and from the world of digital. You have also asked for more provocative debate and discussion and more informal events.
So our season will kick off on September 10th with something a little different, Torin Douglas – who spent 24 years at the BBC News as Media Correspondent – will chair a Question Time Panel about public spending and the arts. Our panel for the evening will include some of the most committed and passionate figures in the industry
- Sir Peter Bazalgette, Chairman of the Arts Council of England;
- Alan Yentob, Creative Director at the BBC;
- Ed Vaisey Minister for Culture, Communications & Creative Industries.
You will be able to book online as soon as the website is up….
Our first informal lunch of the season will be on Thursday September 25th with a discussion on digital innovations.
Our guests will be Kathryn Parsons, founder of digital agency Decoded, Andrew Fisher, Chairman of Shazam, and Simon Fox, CEO of Trinity Mirror who recently launched UsVsTh3m.
One final word – as you know we run a tight ship as a club but to cover our running costs we do need to increase club subscription fees to £300 + VAT and Emeritus members £200 + VAT, the invoices will be emailed shortly. Payment would be appreciated before the end of August. Dinner prices are excellent value and will remain unchanged.
If you have any comments, questions or suggestions for the year, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with either myself or any of the Council members. We are keen to ensure that the Club benefits from clear communication and dialogue between Council and membership.
I do hope you will be able to support our events in September, (booking on line once website is launched). Both offer us the chance to welcome new members and have the opportunity to create thought provoking discussion and debate.
Enjoy your summer.
Best wishes
Andria Vidler
CEO, Centaur Media & Chair, Marketing Group of Great Britain, 2014-15 andria.vidler@centaur.co.uk