Interview: Andy Buck’s new challenge at Acosta

Through the last couple of decades Andy Buck has become one of the best known faces of field marketing, field sales and brand communications, with a strong reputation for bringing energy, dynamism and innovation to this industry. Through 17 years at CPM he was most recently the Chief Development Officer there. Now he has been appointed Group Commercial Director, Acosta Europe, another high responsibility role at an agency that shares similar ambitions to the one he has left.

It is a significant move for both Andy and Acosta, so we put the quuestions to him about the appointment and also got a final word from Group MD at Acosta Europe, Ian Forshew.

How did the opportunity arise? Were you thinking of a change?  

After 17 great years with CPM, working with some amazing people and clients, and creating some industry changing solutions along the way, I felt that it was time for me to look at another challenge outside of CPM. Getting to that conclusion wasn’t an easy process as I have had so many good years at CPM. Once I had made the “mental and emotional leap”, I was able to take stock and review my options of where I could best leverage my skills and experience, be that with a brand or with another agency. Acosta stuck out as an obvious choice, the business has transformed itself in recent years and the people there are an amazing crew.  

Does the new job feel like it will be a challenge? Why?

All new paths offer opportunity and challenge in equal measure. The challenge at Acosta is to help accelerate the development in its already broad range of solutions. Understanding the forces of change that are changing how shoppers, brands and retailers behave and building solutions to deliver for them all is key to success for agencies like Acosta and a challenge I look forward to leading in my new role.   What aspects of your skills and experience do you think will feed into the new role? I have gathered a wealth of experience from the industry be that, field sales, digital, insight and across many other disciplines. This and my experience of leading teams to be curious about the future of what clients will want and need in the future has set me up to take on the new role with Acosta and ensure they win in a very competitive market.  

After 17 years at CPM, what have you left behind that you will look upon proudly? Fondly?

Number one..the people! I have made some lifelong friends from my time at CPM, so not really leaving them behind, but will miss them all the same. Number 2…the freedom I was given to look into the future, and build new data, insight and digital solutions that I am proud of, and will serve CPM well in the future.

What might succcess look like a year from now, assuming all goes well?

Well, its still very early days (7 weeks in!) however I would love to look back on the first year knowing that our clients are happy and can see a path forward with Acosta leading them all through the retail revolution we are in today. I’m looking forward to being able to celebrate the with the teams for the great work they have delivered for their clients. I’d also expect to be looking at pipeline of game-changing innovation that will delight and drive sale for our customers, and outpace the market.  

Finally, a questrion for Ian. On LinkedIn you welcomed Andy to the team with ‘so excited to be working together again after so many years’. Can you elaborate on that? When did you last work together and what was the dynamic like?

I was at GSK Nutritional Healthcare (2004-2010), initially as the Commercial Director for Grocery and latterly as the VP of Sales for Nutritional Healthcare. During our time working together with Andy at CPM we delivered some very strong growth and performance in a variety of areas. The closeness and connection across the two businesses was the key to our joint success and a time I look back on with great fondness and some amazing memories.