1. Favourite local campaign that isn’t yours
NZTA Legends. Love the energy of this campaign and a powerful message which I one hundred percent support.
2. Favourite campaign that is yours
Monteith’s ‘Brewed for Right Now’ campaign. After 150 years of the brewery’s pioneering spirit in New Zealand craft beer, it was the perfect time to apply a fresh approach for the beer category, hero-ing Kiwis who share our pioneering spirit and passion.
A fantastic way of showcasing the fantastic new range of Monteith’s Craft beers that are “brewed for right now”.
3. Favourite international campaign
Hard to beat the latest John Lewis ad featuring Elton John.
Also a big fan of “it’s a Tide Ad” campaign. Who would have thought that washing powder could be so cool! I particularly like the ad featuring the Old Spice Guy. Very clever!
4. Least favourite campaign
Bayley’s. No need to show off the kids, just sell my house thanks.
5. Your own biggest success
The beer category has so many great innovations being launched in 2018 so it’s hugely pleasing to see that three of the four most successful beer launches in the last six months have been from DB. Heineken 0.0, Tiger Crystal and Monteith’s Phoenix IPA, already the number one selling IPA in grocery channel.
6. Most significant launch/innovation/thing of the year
Heineken 0.0 percent. Now you can have a great tasting zero percent beer for so many more occasions! And better still, Kiwis can’t get enough of it!
7. What should be un-invented?
My wife says Fortnite but the kids and I disagree!
8. Lamest trend
Fidget spinners.
9. Best brands
Heineken, Nudie jeans, Sonos, Thankyou.
10. Best stoush
CNN reporter Jim Acosta and Donald Trump – “You are a rude, terrible person”. Ironic words from Mr Trump.
11. Heroes
Tim Brown of Allbirds – awesome to see a Kiwi entrepreneur on a global stage in a tough category. Colin Kaepernick’s “Believe in Something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” Powerful!
12. Villains
Trump, Putin, May, in fact almost every global politician. Aussie cricketer David Warner – we knew he wasn’t a decent bloke but now all he’ll be remembered for is a fully fledged cheat. Transiting LAX with Air NZ., if there is a hell then this is close to it.
13. What died in 2018?
Australian Cricket team. Sky Sports Rugby postmatch analysis – clichéd mediocrity at its best.
14. What’s the biggest mistake marketers will make in 2019?
Continued short term focus rather than building brands for the long term
15. How far in our future do you think The Handmaid’s Tale is?
I haven’t watched this series yet so I’ll have to pass on this!
