How to lead the account management team as Client Services Director, with Paul Kirkley

Paul Kirkley has spent his entire career in agency account management. He knew from a young age he wanted to work in advertising and has certainly fulfilled his ambition. He now works for one of the UK's top creative agencies, MadeBrave as Client Services Director and his experience includes 20 years with JWT (now Wunderman Thompson) working as Global Business Director for brands such as Nestle, Jaguar and Kenco (JDE) where he also lead a client services team of 120.

In this chat, he shares:

  • Why always being curious and genuinely interested in the client's business is key to success

  • How seeing the world through the eyes of each agency department and understanding their motivations sets you up for success in your account management role* Why the best briefings come out of the best questioning and listening

  • Tips for how to become a client's trusted advisor

  • How to lead, inspire and set the account management team up for success

  • The skills you need to be an effective client services director

  • How to make sure you stay relevant and valuable to your client

  • The biggest challenges faced by client services directors and how to prepare for them

  • How remote working has changed the way account managers now interact with clients

  • What skills you need to work with global brands

  • How to be introduced to the client's C-Suite

  • How agencies will evolve in the future and lots more... 

https://www.madebrave.com/

Jenny Plant

This article was written by Jenny Plant is the founder of Account Management Skills and a straight-talking coach for agency account managers, focused on practical tools to help you retain client relationships and grow your accounts.

Jenny is also a podcast host, speaker, trainer and workshop facilitator.

https://accountmanagementskills.com/
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How to improve the way you work with a marketing director, with Sam Bridger

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What can creative agency account managers learn from an account manager in the software industry, with James Aldrich