New microsite launched to transform pitching practices

Developed by ISBA and the IPA, www.thegoodpitch.com aims to bring to life the six pitch principles the 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.

Joint IPA new business & marketing group chairs Helen Weisinger, chief marketing officer at McCann London and Mark Robinson, marketing director at Grey London said: "We are 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. 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."

Raising standards of pitch practice

Said Debbie Morrison, ISBA's director of consultancy & best practice: "We're really excited about delivering this site to the communications marketplace and 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."

Paul Bainsfair, director general at the IPA, said, "This is a place where both clients and agencies can go to get advice and ideas about pitching, but most importantly where they can also communicate. We have already seen how successfully the Six Pitch Principles have been adopted by both sides and we hope that this site will prompt more collaboration and cut waste from the pitch process. A win for both sides."

Clients and agencies that have contributed to the site:

• 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 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, MD, 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, CMO, 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, CMO, Virgin Media
  
• Ottokar Rosenberger, UK country manager, eHarmony UK Ltd
  
• Paul Graham, partner, Anomaly
  
• Pippa Glucklich, MD, 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, MD, Maxus Global
  
• Traci Dunne, consultancy manager, ISBA
  
• Will Abbott, marketing & communications director, Freeset

For more information, go to www.thegoodpitch.com.