"The IPA is bigger than any individual, and the ecosystem is bigger than the IPA"

A shameless rip off of Arm Holdings' mantra in the FT (24 Jan page 14). But so true.

And good to be reminded, on the day when the Creative Industries Council met for the third time to discuss a cross-sectoral skills agenda. The meeting was electric.

Bodes well for future creative industries collaboration.

Marketers wanted!

So says Andrew Hill, reassuringly in yesterday, Tuesday 24 Jan's FT (page 14).

"I used to think marketing was simple, compared with, say, product innovation. But - if their role is broadly defined, as it must be at global companies - practitioners of the discipline have a good claim to be doing one of the most complex, challenging and important jobs in modern business."

So, at last, the penny's dropped!

What a Pringle!

No, not Hamish Pringle, former DG at the IPA, but the Velodrome in the Olympic Park, aptly nicknamed because of its shape, and the building which most wowed the 30 IPA member agency reps we took on a tour last Friday.

Here are another 20 small and large facts and figures picked up from our tour guide:

1. There were 220 buildings on the original site. Only 1 remains. It will become a visitor centre about energy after the Games.

2. 150,000 people are working on the site.

3. The accident rate has been only one third of the average for UK construction sites.

4. Project management in the construction of The Park has been so good that there is NO OVERTIME.

5. The energy centre has a twin in Westfields, in case anything happens.

6. The flowerbeds near the River Lea are planted with bright gold flowers to come out in time for the Games.

7. The hockey will be played on a blue and pink pitch with a yellow ball.

8. The largest McDonald in the world will be housed in the Park.

9. There are 700 rooms below the Main Stadium for the athletes to prepare in.

10. The lights in The Stadium are so powerful that they will obliterate shadow in HD.

11. 2,800 homes will become available after The Games: 50% affordable; 50% for the private sector.

12. The Orbit, designed by Anish Kapoor, is Britain's tallest sculpture; at 114 metres high, it has 455 steps and is inspired by the 5 Olympic rings.

13. The Olympic Park spans 4 London boroughs; Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Waltham Forest. Each will take on responsibilities for Legacy buildings in their borough.

14. Stratford Walk will be the main front door to the Olympic Park. It will pass through Stratford Westfields.

15. Stratford Westfields will house one of the UK's first SuperCasinos.

16. 4 billion people worldwide will watch the opening ceremony.

17. 205 countries are taking part.

18. You are never 50 metres from a park bench in The Park.

19. One original lock bridge has been retained.

20. There will be 20,000 accredited journalists in media village.

Job surge for grads in adland

The IPA 2011 Census, out today, shows record growth of 19% in graduate recruitment numbers last year: to over 750 across our 250 member agencies.

Ed Vaizey backs IPA Creative Pioneers(TM) Challenge

Today, in Metro magazine, and at the IPA President's reception, is the official launch of the Creative Pioneers (TM) Challenge - a nationwide competition to discover the next generation of UK Creative Pioneers. 100 leaders of today and being invited to help identify and mentor the leaders of tomorrow.

200 days to the Olympics

And 10 days to the 20th January when we take our IPA London 2012 Ambassadors on a bus tour of the Olympic Park.

Through the glass ceiling

Check our my article about Women on Boards in this month's Market Leader (Quarter 1, Page 50) published by warc.

And happy to announce my first non-exec role on the QAA for Higher Education Board.

Good ads work!

A positive start to the New Year with the Evening Standard's report on John Lewis December sales (4 Jan Page 2).

"Retail experts said the fantastic success of the ad, called The Long Wait, contributed to John Lewis's remarkable sales figures which dramatically bucked the depressed trend elsewhere on the High Street."

"The TV mini-saga had 'struck a chord' with consumers."

Should we be surprised? Congratulations to IPA member agency Adam & Eve! (didn't the lead team there also reinvent M&S?)

Check out the IPA's Advertising Effectiveness Search Engine (EASE) to search our huge collection of effectiveness case studies online. It's very quick and, like John Lewis, you won't have to wait long to read about the value of advertising.

What's the connection between the International Monetary Fund and synchronised swimming?

Christine Lagarde, apparently. The IMF chief used to swim for France.

According to Radio 4's newspaper reviewers on New Year's eve, it should come in handy in her new role trying to sort out the euro.

"Keeping calm on the surface, with lots of thrashing about below the water line."

The Big Rethink?

What a waste!

A Royal Mail sponsored webinar series, reported in the Economist.

Very bland. What's the objective? Where's the evidence?

Hello 2012

Olympic year, and a tour of the Olympic park to look forward to on the 20th.

Tickets to diving on the 11th August. Hopefully going for gold!

Thumbs up to British Airways

On a return flight from France for a New Year bash, and the computers go down at check-in!

All systems manual. 3 hours delay! Lesser airlines would have panicked. British Airways charmed their way through. We even clapped the flight crew!

Goodbye 2011

Check out The Economist (17th December, pps 11,12) for the best, 'fast', two page summary, of last year's tumultuous political and economic events.

A year to remember to forget!