Today’s guest is John Connors, CEO of the Boston-based, full-service agency, Boathouse.

John argues that agencies have become too transactional, weakening client relationships as well as their impact on business outcomes. So he’s built a client-centric culture that deeply understands the drivers of commercial performance.

The conversation explores the disconnect between client-side CEOs and CMOs, and how to justify brand investment alongside digital media.

Thoughtful, practical and optimistic, this is a conversation about building trust, commercial credibility and brand value.

HIGHLIGHTS:

[03:54] Studying the CEO

[08:13] Execution over consultancy

[09:45] The CEO disconnect

[13:44] Halfway to transformation

[19:40] Map the revenue

[25:40] Partner vs employee mindset

[30:13] Relationships over transactions

[36:07] Anchored to the P&L

[39:23] The numbers behind AI

MORE ABOUT JOHN:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/john-connors

Website: boathouseinc.com

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Boathouse CEO research

Richard Huntington in Campaign: It's time to stop talking about “brand” and “creativity” (paywalled)

HOST SOCIALS:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robinbonn

Twitter: twitter.com/robonn

MORE ABOUT CO:DEFINERY:

Website: codefinery.com

Book: Market of One

Mentioned in this episode:

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