WE ARE A GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY BUILT TO GROW BRANDS THROUGH Our approach to media is underpinned by a simple reality – advertising avoidance behaviours will continue to accelerate as new platforms and technologies emerge. This will result in the continued deterioration of paid media effectiveness over time as brands struggle with the pace they need to stay relevant. We believe that the speed at which a brand interprets – and responds to – cultural data signals to improve its relevance with consumers is the key to success. We call this Cultural VelocityTM. What hasn’t changed in this fresh approach is our promise to deliver transformative business results. We do this by interrogating data and customer insights, stewarding your investments to drive efficiencies and savings with the utmost transparency. WE The four i’s in Initiative represent our four key stakeholders – our people, our clients, our partners and our consumers. We value these relationships above all else, and our promises to these groups are unwavering. WE ARE PROUD TO CALL THE FOLLOWING CULTURE-DRIVING BRANDS OUR PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD. GLOBAL APAC NA EMEA LATAM AMY ARMSTRONG Global CEO Amy was appointed Global CEO in March 2021 and she believes that without a doubt, talent is what enables a culture, and ultimately a company, to thrive. This is no new-found belief, instead it's one that has shaped her career since she started with IPG 20 years ago. By continuously actioning on this belief, she's built teams & nurtured an environment that has resulted in "turnarounds” that some would have deemed near-impossible. Amy strives to create a company that matters & makes a difference in the lives of employees, in clients' business, and in the industry as a whole. Amy has held roles at various IPG agencies for over 20 years, most recently as US CEO for Initiative. Since joining Initiative in 2016, Amy transformed the company's US operations, including driving business results for her clients and substantial revenue growth for the agency. During her tenure, the US received accolades including being named US Comeback Agency of the Year by Ad Age, US Media Agency of the Year by Adweek, and named a Best Place to Work by Ad Age. The standard that she represents made her a natural selection for 2018's Awarding Jury at Cannes for Media. A client roster that spans multiple industry sectors from Entertainment, Technology, Wireless, Healthcare and CPG/FMCG is testament to her acumen for growth and transformation. She proudly makes public her commitment and actions to increase diversity & inclusion within Initiative globally, recognizing that there is still a lot of work to be done in this area. Leading by example and taking nothing for granted, Amy champions the importance of wellness + making time to be with your community, family and passions. Unsurprisingly, this would be her twin sons. STEFAN BURFORD Global Chief Strategy Officer Stefan is an experienced and highly awarded communications strategist who has been working for over a decade on some of the world’s best brands. He started his IPG network life in 2011 as the Chief Strategy Officer of UM Australia and during his tenure won Campaign Magazine Media Planner of the Year as well as the Global Media Campaign of the Year at the Festival of Media. Stefan’s role involves leading the strategic vision of the group, championing creativity and culture, as well as driving innovation for clients. JARROD MARTIN Global Chief Transformation and Data Officer Jarrod makes sense of the incredible amount of data and analytics we have to provide intelligent and globally scalable solutions for our clients. He works to accelerate the shift towards digital, and automate internal processes that enable our agencies to work more efficiently with our partners, clients and the broader Initiative network. As data and analytics, along with the insights they create, are becoming increasingly important to business, Jarrod collaborates strongly with our clients, agency and specialty units leads and is a key member of Initiative's global leadership team. prev next People are the true product of our agency. At Initiative, we create diverse and inclusive teams that are representative of the world around us, supported by a well-defined and strong culture. That culture is one of empowerment. Everyone in the company has a voice and a role in developing our values and behaviours. Our culture extends into the way we recruit, train and develop our people, to ensure the best possible talent for our client partners. CLICK HERE General Inquiries New Business Prospects CAPE TOWN INITIATIVE MEDIA | Building 2 – Level 2 5 Armadale Road – Woodstock T: +27 21 487 8990 DURBAN Initiative Media INITIATIVE MEDIA | Suite 4 The Castle 19 Lavendergate Drive - Southgate Business Park - Umbogintwini T: +27 31 914 4670 JOHANNESBURG INITIATIVE MEDIA | Pinmill Farm 164 Katherine Street - Block Strathavon - Building 2 - Sandton T: +27 11 780 6200 BACK TO TOP PRIVACY POLICY CCPA PRIVACY NOTICE COOKIE SETTINGS TERMS OF USE IPG MEDIABRANDS IPG Our website uses cookies for various purposes, including to enhance the site's functionality, and help us understand how you use and interact with the website. To learn more about the cookies used and your choices, please see the Online Privacy Notice. Please indicate below whether you agree to the use of cookies for the purposes described above: You may adjust your cookie settings at any time by clicking settings. Yes No