First Direct founder teams up with creative agency to spearhead new arm

YORKSHIRE-BASED creative agency Intermarketing Group has joined forced with one of the founders of First Direct and former commercial director of HSBC, Peter Simpson, to launch a new consumer-focused marketing consultancy called Intervue. 
 
Intervue will operate as the new strategy and planning division of the Leeds-based Intermarketing Group and includes six experienced senior team members representing each marketing channel, including experts in digital, branding and media strategies.

Intermarketing Group employs more than 40 staff and is a full service creative agency specialising in branding, direct response and retail with clients including adidas, RSA and Ted Baker.
 
Peter Simpson, Intervue head of business strategy, said: “Intervue is all about customer-focused ideas for business and is launched on the premise that too many organisations get bogged down in channels and products and are losing sight of what the customer wants I believe businesses are doing too much selling and not enough listening.   
 
“We intend to use market intelligence to inform more powerful marketing decisions and consumer propositions, that cost effectively grow businesses and profit. Intervue will focus on blending hard facts with customer insights, providing organisations with much needed clarity on how to attract and engage the right customers.    
 
“With current marketing conditions meaning budgets are tight and more closely monitored, the traditional marketing team will focus on campaign improvements from lower cost media or production.  A laudable response to the challenge, but the smarter option is to explore new propositions based on clear customer or market insights.
 
“Only by examining the offer and ensuring that it’s fit for your customers’ needs can marketers make strategic gains for their organisations. Intervue will build demand, not just improve campaigns.”
 
Intermarketing Group managing director, Glenn Patterson commented: “We are pleased to have Peter heading up Intervue. He is a creative thinker with an exceptional track record and has great instincts for the consumer market.”