Ode to Tess

This has been a momentous week at IPG Mediabrands for sure. We held FWD, our annual conference, a 3-day extravaganza of brain and soul-nourishing content. We gave an audience to an array of our glittering clients, partners, guests and indeed our own colleagues – each of them inspiring us with their work and perspectives. Thanks to all of them.

I had the chance to be a part of the agenda myself as on Tuesday I hosted an interview with one of my all-time heroes, Tess Alps. In a bid to subvert the almighty wince-inducing ‘fireside chat’ format (common and contrived as it is), we decided to hold our talk as a detective interview.

I 'played' a bad cop from the Future Constabulary of Dystopian and Amoral Media, sent back in time from the year 3019 to immobilise and contain key figures who are making the industry ‘better’. A bit like in Terminator. An abstract format, you might think. And you’d be quite right. Hopefully its novelty felt refreshing and fun.

For the uninitiated, Tess is an icon in the UK media industry. There are many reasons to love and respect her. She rose to the top of the rampantly macho world of TV sales during the 70s and 80s, later making the risky move of joining a start-up media agency.

The leap of faith paid off however, as – thanks in no small way to her leadership, no doubt – the start-up later became PHD. True to form, Tess scaled that organisation to become its Chairman, becoming one of the first women to lead an agency group.  

In 2006, Tess left PHD to become the Chief Executive of Thinkbox – the trade body that promotes the interests of commercial TV in the UK. That organisation is home, in my opinion, to many of the most brilliant minds in our game; amongst whom, Lindsey Clay, someone who has had an immeasurable impact for the better on my life. I’ll save that ode for another moment, though.

Tess holds the Mackintosh Medal – the highest honour the UK marketing industry can bestow on a practitioner. She holds important roles at the ASA, BAFTA, the Marketing Society and the Royal Television Society. She was WACL President. In short, Tess is the closest there is to a Queen of Media, a term she doesn’t enjoy. She is also very modest.

Tess spoke at FWD20 with her signature frankness on a wide range of topics. Here are some of the many resonant ideas that Tess touched upon:

·     Action over talk: Anybody can drive progress in our industry. Get organised, form a movement (big or small) and make things better

·     Be bold in chasing happiness: If you're not satisfied with your situation, don't settle

·     Compassion in all you do: Treat those around you with care and gentleness; take care of vulnerable people

·     Ethics to the fore: Media needs to become more ethically sound if we are to have an industry to be proud of. The 'larger digital businesses' have a lot of housekeeping to do

·     More than an ad: Advertising has the cultural influence to help propel great progress in society - not least towards sustainability

·     Power is not intoxicating: Success and kindness are not mutually exclusive. When success comes, use it to do good, and to help up others

·     Zero tolerance for misconduct: There continue to be dark and silent abuses in our industry. Sexual harassment still abounds, as does workplace bullying. Companies must cultivate cultures that are vigilant and that allow victimised voices to be heard

Despite a sleepless night before the session, caused by all the nerves and fretting over why I'd chosen this, of all moments, to reengage with my GCSE creative writing 'flair' - the talk went really well. Tess beamed her uniquely moving and irresistible energy into every corner of the Barbican's Cinema 1.

Tess's ideology of respect for others aligns snugly with ours at UM and at IPG Mediabrands, and so it was the greatest pleasure for us to be able to honour her. The applause for her contribution was loud and long and I've heard tons of positive feedback on the session since. Some of it has been quite overwhelming, in truth, with people mentioning that Tess's conviction has awakened in them a real urge to create change. I suspect our Open employee resource groups will feel the benefit of this newly-kindled energy soon enough.

And so, I look back on this nervous, excited, at times tearful, energising, learning, joyful, proud and most memorable of weeks with deep satisfaction, and - above all - in awe at the magnificence of Tess Alps's character.

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