Mark O'Flaherty Email & Phone Number

Ireland

As Head of Planning my principle role involved working with Account Directors to develop compelling multimedia strategies across a range of key clients, including Johnson & Johnson, Zurich and Tesco Mobile, in order to achieve their communication objectives. I ensured understanding and best usage of agency processes and tools amongst account teams to help enable them to deliver maximised communication plans for clients. I was also a key member of the team tasked with fostering innovation and change within the agency through regular workshops and presentations. Highlights during this period included: As part of an international UM win I managing the smooth transition of the Johnson & Johnson account, a major multi brand client, within the Irish market.Securing new business for the agency, including DBS College and Elites - the launch of Elites Curv campaign helped drive double the client’s planned market penetration. The continued contribution to the success of Tesco Mobile as one of the fastest growing network providers in this extremely competitive category. As Mediabrands operates one of the only true trading desks - Cadreon - in the Irish market I have gained in-depth understanding of the impact programmatic can have on our clients’ businesses.

Ireland

My key role as Client Service Director was to ensure our clients - including Microsoft, MasterCard, Mars, General Mills and Edward Dillons – received the highest calibre service the agency had to offer. I was responsible for selecting and maintaining the best agency account teams to suit the client’s requirements. Together with these teams I created and implemented highly effective communications plans for our clients as well as providing proof of campaign performance. During my time as Client Service Director we consistently achieved high scores and bonuses for all our performance based clients.From the agency‘s side I ensured the spends and profitability of each client and helped the teams cross sell other service opportunities where suitable. I was also responsible for my team’s skills set and career development, all of whom have successfully moved on and up within various organisations.Some high-points during this period were winning and subsequently running the Mars account, Weight Watchers, Mater Private Hospital, and the Examiner Newspaper. On a campaign front I successfully launched MasterCard Ireland as part of their Priceless Cities programme on Priceless.com, launching Nature Valley Popcorn – achieving well above the target performance- and launched Microsoft Windows 8, which sold out across its first 6 months.Working on technology and alcohol brands in particular has ensured that I have stayed on the sharp edge of digital advertising evolution across display, social, search, sponsorship and content co creation/ distribution.

Ireland

McCann Erickson was one of the most creative agencies in the market at the time, allowing me the opportunity to work as part of a cross agency integrated team. UM also operated as a media independent, we had an equal number of media only clients, with our own separate business targets to hit.As Account Director I had responsibility for running a number of key accounts. NTL and British Telecom (BT) were both brand response clients with a focus on sign ups, while L’Oréal offered me the opportunity to work on a multi brand, multi-product portfolio client targeting numerous audiences.

Ireland

Des O’Mearas was the first properly integrated full service agency I worked in. Briefs were simultaneously issued to creative and media teams and we worked closely together to deliver fully integrated campaigns. This gave me a much greater understanding of the total advertising process and taught me to always keep in mind the message as well as the medium.I began in Des O’Meara Advertising as a media planner but was quickly promoted to Media Manager. I looked after the planning requirements of a number of key accounts and oversaw implementation of all clients’ activity in conjunction with the agency buyers. During my time in DOMPs I worked on the rebrand campaign re-positioning Quinnsworth as Tesco in Ireland, the launch campaign of Esat Digifone, Ireland's first independent mobile phone network, and handled the launch campaign of the Euro in Ireland.

Ireland

I started in Wilson Hartnell as a media planner, with responsibility for the media requirements of Ford, ACC bank and Mattel toys.

Higher National Diploma, Learning & Development Practice

Advertising Management, Diploma

Evening course while working.

Media Studies, Diploma

Evening course while working.

Advertising Studies

Full time course to establish understanding of all areas of advertising industry.

Leaving Certificate