Well, it’s official. I no longer work for Altogether or The Engine Group. In fact, for the next 11 days I guess that I’m officially unemployed. But a week on Monday I’ll be starting in a new role at the global media agency Mindshare.
I’ve had an amazing time at Altogether and am really quite conflicted about leaving: whilst Mindshare promises a host of incredible opportunities, Altogether (and Engine in fact) really was a very nice company to work for. There were some teething problems after the its birth following the merger of three agencies (including Eyefall, the one I left RBI for) but we came out the other side stronger and it’s now staffed by an incredibly talented and friendly bunch of people – even if they do have strange ideas about what make a suitable leaving card (you can see my card here if you don’t mind offensive language).
And it’s not just the team at Altogether I’ll miss; one of the best things about working there (and one of the main reasons I decided to go there in the first place) was being able to work with so many great people from so many brilliant agencies. So thanks to Laurence & the guys at WCRS; Karen,Tim & all the Synergy team; Jasmine & the rest of the Kleenex girls at Mandate. In fact everyone. I honestly could count on the fingers of one hand the people I met there who I didn’t get on with, and that’s not something I’ve been able to say at any other job.
Many of these people came along to wish me well last night and, again I’d like to thank them all. I was also joined by a bunch of people that I used to work with at RBI including James from Com, as well as friends from the world of search, including Will from Distilled, Jane from Ayima, Richard from SEOGadget and Stephen from Oxfordshire. Other than the fact that I often get paid to piss about on the internet all day (or at least that’s what I let people believe) it’s people like these that make me think I have the best job in the world.
Anyway, I’m now off on holiday for a week (bliss!) and when I get back will be working on one of the world’s greatest brands (Nike) as well as helping Mindshare launch its first social media offering. I’m also going to be speaking at the Online Marketing Show on my 3rd day on the job, so if youre there, do come & say hi – I’ve got the last workshop session on July 1st.
This new role is an amazing opportunity and is undoubtedly going to be challenging & exciting but no matter what happens I’ll always have a soft spot for the team at Altogether and will be mentally cheering them on from a bar in Santorini during next week’s Effectiveness Awards. Here’s hoping that by the time I actually start at Mindshare Do The Test will have won another award.
Goodbye Stop by Peter Kaminski on flickr
Congrats on your new post, Ciaran. I would have been there to wish you well except you are on the other side of the Atlantic 🙂
Glad to hear you will be working with Nike. See if you can finagle an “essential” business trip to world HQ in Portland at some point!!
Farewell and good luck on your new position Ciarian, congrats!
Haha – just saw that leaving card. Brilliant!