The WFA Media Committee is a worldwide network for Global/ Regional Media Directors and national advertiser associations. Quarterly meetings allow members to liaise on strategic issues with a view to maximizing the effectiveness and efficiency of their marketing communications investment.

The main objectives of this unique network are to:

• share experience and best practice with industry peers
• save valuable time by cutting out much ‘trial and error’
• expose members to emerging trends and challenges that impact their activities
• network with industry peers (all WFA groups are for advertisers only)

The Media Committee is chaired by Ian Gallois, International Media Director, Wrigley. The members of the group are Global/ Regional Media Directors from some of the world’s most sophisticated marketers including Avon, Beiersdorf, BP, Cadbury Schweppes, Coca-Cola, Coty, Daimler, Danone, Emirates, Ferrero, Henkel, ICI, InBev, Indesit, Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg, Kraft Foods, Mars, McDonald’s, Nestle, Nokia, Novartis, Orange, Philips, Procter & Gamble, ReckittBenckiser, Renault, SC Johnson, Telefonica, Unilever, VF Europe and Vodafone. In addition, specialists attend from the following national advertiser associations: ANA, APAN, ISBA, UBA, UDA.
The WFA Media Committee’s agenda is set by its members, for its members, in order to deliver maximum added value in areas of precise relevance to their everyday activities.
Contact c.ceska@wfanet.org for more information.

2008 Meetings:

• 14 February 2008, Beiersdorf, Hamburg
• 7 May 2008, McDonald's, Vienna
• 25 September 2008, P&G, Rome
• 26 November 2008, Henkel, Düsseldorf

WFA’s Global Communications Procurement Action Group is a bespoke forum for marketing procurement practitioners to share knowledge, ideas and working methods to help optimise their strategic sourcing.

The forum meets quarterly and acts as a learning and intelligence-gathering tool for members working in the field of communications purchasing. It enables participants to address key challenges and benchmark their activities against the industry development curve.

Global COMPAG is chaired by Natasha Lee, Procurement Sector Manager EMEA, Cadbury Schweppes. Members include senior marketing purchasing directors from the world’s biggest advertisers including Avon, Boehringer Ingelheim, BNP Paribas, BP, Coca-Cola, Coty, Danone, Inbev, Indesit, Johnson & Johnson, Kraft Foods, Mars, McDonald’s, Nestle, Nokia, Novartis, Orange, Orkla, Philips, Procter & Gamble, Renault, Royal Bank of Scotland, Unilever and Vodafone. In addition, specialists attend from the following national advertiser associations: ANA, ISBA, UDA.

Its main objectives are:

1. To increase member competence around key areas of marketing communications purchasing at a global/ regional level (for example: agency compensation, e-sourcing practices, low-cost country sourcing);

2. To keep members informed of industry trends, learn from best-in-class examples and promote best practice in the field (for example: production decoupling, sourcing agency auditing)

3. To raise awareness and promote the role of communications procurement vis-à-vis marketers and agencies.

Contact s.lightfoot@wfanet.org for more information.

2008 Meetings:

• 16th January 2008, Nokia, Paris
• 2nd April 2008, Coca-Cola, London
• 18th June 2008, Orange, Paris
• 15th October 2008, Unilever, London

The mission of the Sponsorship Taskforce is to build members’ capability in sponsorship as a marketing discipline.

This is achieved through the creation of a network of marketing experts who share innovations, case studies and expertise, which help to build members’ efficiency and effectiveness in sponsorship.

In addition this group enables participants to:

• be exposed to emerging trends and challenges that impact their activities
• network with industry peers (this group is for sponsors only, not rights holders or agencies)

The Sponsorship Taskforce is chaired by Johan Jervoe, Corporate Vice President Global Marketing, McDonald's. The members of the group are amongst the most experienced and sophisticated global sponsors, including BNP Paribas, BP, Coca-Cola, Daimler, Emirates, Ferrero, Johnson & Johnson, McDonald’s, Nestle, Nokia, Novartis, Orange, Shell, SC Johnson, Telefonica and Wrigley. In addition, specialists attend from the following national advertiser associations ANA, APAN, ISBA, UBA, UDA.

Contact r.dreblow@wfanet.org for more information.

2008 Meetings:

• 6 May 2008, McDonald's, Vienna
• 25 November 2008, Henkel, Düsseldorf

The digital network is a new working group for global interactive marketing directors (or similar). This group seeks to respond to the need for shared expertise within this unique and rapidly developing channel. Rather than trying to ‘split’ interactive from the marcoms mix, this group will operate as a ‘sub-group’ to the Media Committee.

The potential benefits for members include:

• Potential to save time and cut out much ‘trial and error’ through sharing of experiences
• A unique global network for advertisers only
• A cohesive, independent voice when required to speak on interactive issues

If you are interested in knowing more, please contact r.dreblow@wfanet.org

2008 Meetings:

• 30th January, Vodafone, London
• 1st October, TBC, London