Magee Named Manager, Agency Relations at AgencyFinder
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Advertising veteran, Catherine Magee, has been named Manager, Agency Relations by AgencyFinder’s Chairman and CEO, Charles Meyst
Richmond, VA, January 11, 2010 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) – Charles Meyst, Chairman and CEO of AgencyFinder, announced the appointment of Catherine Magee as Manager, Agency Relations for the ad industry’s on-line and off-line match-making service. Ms. Magee’s primary duties will be to guide advertising agencies and public relations firms through registration and profile development so they can be found and introduced to any of the 800 or more clients expected to use AgencyFinder seeking new or additional marketing service providers.
“Catherine brings a great deal of agency-side experience which I found very appealing,” explained Mr. Meyst. “She knows what it’s like to go through laborious RFP’s for new business only to find out the client didn’t know what to do with the information once they received it.” The AgencyFinder registration process requires agencies to submit much of the pro forma information often required in an RFP, meaning clients are able to include and compare the important data for their search instantly and objectively during the first stages of the selection process.
Ms. Magee’s agency-side experience includes time spent at Lawler-Ballard/Earle Palmer Browne and Hawley Martin in Richmond, VA and ten years’ experience in Chicago working at Campbell-Mithun and TracyLocke on major national brands.
“As the economy starts to show signs of recovery, we expect to see even more clients come to AgencyFinder to find new and additional marketing service agencies. Once begun, that pace should continue to accelerate,” said AgencyFinder’s Mr. Meyst. “Catherine’s primary responsibility will be to make sure we’re continuing to recruit and retain the best agencies in North America to be part of the online portfolio we make available to these clients at no charge.”
Personal Touch Makes the Difference
The firm’s offices – based in Richmond (VA) – has continued to see vigorous search and business development activities from both clients and agencies, but it’s the personal interaction with the AgencyFinder staff that seems to make the difference. “Our subscribing agencies expect that and it’s imperative they know it happens.” explained Mr. Meyst.
“I bring experience that only someone who has worked on the agency’s side of the table can bring,” said Ms. Magee. “I understand where these agencies are coming from when it comes to new business; and having worked for both large and mid-sized agencies, I also understand the pecking order and political hoops that can be set up on the inside.”
“But once an agency understands how we work, they appreciate the speed, quality and objectivity AgencyFinder brings to the agency selection process. The system here allows us to make sure the right agencies are in the running for the right accounts,” said Ms. Magee. “That’s why our registered agencies and clients complete encompassing questionnaires and provide comprehensive information about their capabilities (from agencies) and the nature of the assignment (from clients).”
AgencyFinder assisted in the placement of over $294 million in new business with advertising agencies and PR firms in the US and UK in 2009. The average account size was slightly in excess of $1 million.
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About AgencyFinder – AgencyFinder and its companion websites, agencyfinder.com & agencyfinder.eu is a service of Business Partnering, Int. (BPI), a Virginia corporation founded in February of 1997. The service is unique in its match-making process for pairing advertising, public relations and marketing agencies with clients and is intended for use by companies seeking agency support for projects, campaigns or long-term relationships. Searching is free to marketers and supported with complimentary search consulting advice (telephone and on-site consultations) provided by BPI’s executive staff. Advertising agencies and public relations firms (right-sized for budgets less than $100,000 to more than $100 million) pay an annual registration fee to be in the on line database and to be eligible to participate in reviews.
Contact: Mike Bawden
Principal – Bawden & Lareau Public Relations
563-359-8654 – phone
563-343-0411 – mobile
