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Propaganda

Phillipson leaves Propaganda after pitching dispute

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By The Drum Team, Editorial

February 17, 2010 | 2 min read

Propaganda director Mike Phillipson has left the agency with immediate effect following a disagreement over pitching, The Drum has learned.

The Leeds agency has operated an outspoken policy of not pitching for new business in recent years after claiming the pitch process is flawed. In a statement given to The Drum today the agency said Phillipson had left the business after he “committed the agency to a pitch without its knowledge”.

Julian Kidger, joint managing director of Propaganda, said: “We made the decision some years back as a business not to pitch and understood at the time that to remain true to this it was always going to be a challenge as so much of this industry's culture and upbringing has been pitch related.

“Mike's actions went against the clear directions of the board here and more so could have exposed the agency to a costly and embarrassing PR situation had we not discovered events at the stage we did.”

Phillipson declined to comment on his departure when asked about it by The Drum.

Kidger, meanwhile, claimed Propaganda's decision not to pitch to clients has been good for business.

He said: “Our new business and retention levels are at a 16 year high and by default our clients actively reject the pitch model too.

"These are senior people that buy Propaganda for its difference and principally on its track record of demonstrable business and brand transformations for its clients, not one of them would consider lining up a creative beauty parade and buying a relationship on the strength of single pitch idea.”

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