“I need chocolate” Alvaro says to me as we leave our lunch of Asian noodle soup.
“Chocolate? After that huge bowl of soup?” I say, bewildered.
Alvaro grins. “I am Spanish,” he says. “For me, life is all about good food and good wine. And now, I must have a chocolate cookie.”
So off we go, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, on a search to conquer the definitive chocolate cookie.
I am beginning to get an idea of why Madrileño Alvaro Marquez - the guy walking around like the love child of Serj Tankian and Jason Lee – traded in his job as Interactive Art Director at Madrid’s star advertising agency, Shackleton Group to find his chocolate cookie over in Amsterdam. And why we brought him on as one of our Art Directors in the first place. The guy is determined. And he’s determined to enjoy himself while getting there. And he wants to take you along for the ride…
Why Media Catalyst?
‘‘MC - as a small but international agency - is experiencing such a strong surge. It clearly has the potential, the capability and the kind of clients willing to invest in the possibilities.”
How do you think we can reach those possibilities?
“We have to consider ourselves the number one client. Take the time we need until it feels right. And you will see how clients will call on you more and more.”
And as an agency?
“I think with our offices in the US and Malta, as well as our JV, MC has a lot of opportunity to create more brand awareness. But experience has also taught me that doing great projects is just as important as creating awareness.”
And Alvaro does have the experience.
“In Spain, the way we approach our clients’ problems is quite different. Budgets are not always generous - so you have to call on your creativity even more. For example, Banco Gallego – then a virtually unknown bank in Spain – approached the agency to help them get their name out. The budget was small, but then was some stroke of luck. Barcelona goalie Lopetegui just happened to have fainted in front of Spain’s eyes during a television program, and no one knew why. So grabbed the opportunity and answered the question.”
The result: a full-fledged campaign. The response? Web play, air play and one happy client… not to mention: Grand prix & agency of the year at Cannes, great prize at El Sol, Gold iman award, Bronze echo dma, and the agency marked as the 4th top world in The Won Report
Now that is one hell of a chocolate cookie