July Grill Guest: Tim Woodsmith, Ex The Monkeys (now Droga5) and Accenture Song - Now Rare's Director of Strategy

Tim Woodsmith Announced As July Grill The Marketer Guest

This July we're welcoming Tim Woodsmith to the hot seat! He's not been in Perth that long, so you might not have come to meet him yet, but here's what you need to know.

Tim recently joined Rare as Director of Strategy having spent the last 15 years in the UK and Sydney working across globally recognised brand agencies, creative shops, design studios and world dominating consultancies, including arguably Australia’s most awarded and celebrated creative agency The Monkeys (now Droga5) and the global powerhouse that is Accenture Song.

A brand strategist at heart, he's enjoyed a non-traditional (squiggly) career path, moving into Digital Strategy, Experience Design, Product and Service Development and Business Transformation, before coming back to brand.

Today he helps define brands - and shape how people experience them, specialising in providing a clear distinction in market, and crafting effective strategies across both brand and experience that ultimately lead to growth.

"I Like to think I’ve left a notable, lasting impact on the Australian market, forging strong relationships and delivering award-winning work for major brands including the likes of: Tourism Australia, Telstra, NRMA Insurance, BP, Qantas, UNICEF, WWF, Krispy Kreme, Westpac and CBA."

Tim's from the Uk, I’m from the UK and has worked there, Canada and NZ, but spent most of his career in Sydney spanning digital agencies (White), Creative agencies (303MullenLowe and The Monkeys) and Experience Design consultancies (Accenture Song) before coming to Perth.

Like every origin story, I unexpectedly fell into the agency world after studying to become a journalist. Starting out as a creative before quickly jumping over to strategy.

We'll have to ask former panelist, Matt Oakley - fellow British strategist - if this counts in the definition of "squiggly". IYKYK.

The Work

Ok, but what's he worked on? We've got a list! It's not exhaustive, but have a read:

• Turning NRMA into a Help Company

• Encouraging Australians to Thrive On with Telstra

• Getting everyone to Come And Say G’Day with Tourism Australia

• Reminding people why they call Australia Home with Qantas

• Getting people to donate their time with UNICEF

• Helping regenerate Australia with WWF

• Taking people back to the 1980’s with Krispy Kreme

The Road

Tim's worked with agencies as part of a cohort that expanded across brand, experience design, innovation, and technology on an entirely different level.

The buyout of The Monkeys by Accenture created a unique position to be in, opening myself to a much broader world within Consultancies, leading to conversations and work that had a much bigger impact than marketing, it was literally transforming organisations.

It's not all been smooth sailing though. He's been made redundant

in my first job in Sydney. Got rehired 2 weeks later with a promotion and new pay rise. As the agency lost a client and won a pitch in a space of a month.

That's the crazy agency landscape for you!

The Destination?

Tim's a big believer the role we have as marketers extends well beyond the world of marketing and comms.

We have a major role in how organisations define themselves and how they show up – this includes experiences, products, services

Tim's also the facilitator of the ACA AdSchool Advanced Strategic Planning course, which begins this September in Perth.

So start thinking about your brand, strategy and positioning questions, grab your tickets and come fire up the grill with us on the 24th of July.

Hosted by Carma Levene, MC supreme: Jacqueline Baril.

Side note: Keith will be away for the second time ever in 6 years 😲 Who will be our stand-in Mic Man? You'll have to come and find out.