Ex-PHD boss Simon Lawson launches media advisory

Former PHD Australia managing director Simon Lawson has launched his own media advisory, Chilon Media Governance.

Lawson is striking out alone after more than two decades inside global agency groups including Omnicom and Publicis.

His new independent advisory firm is designed to help advertisers “capture lost value and unlock new sources of value” within an increasingly complicated media landscape.

Chilon is built around Lawson’s proprietary media governance framework, Ascent, which assesses 22 value drivers across the media ecosystem, spanning contracts, trading models, technology costs, and commercial arrangements. It is designed to identify measurable and reportable value within five business days.

“Having spent decades inside the system, I’ve seen where value is created, and where it’s lost,” Lawson said in a media release announcing Chilon.

“Many advertisers are focused on agency fees and media pricing, but the bigger opportunity is in governance, making sure the investment is transparent, accountable and working as intended.”

Lawson said a central focus for Chilon is advising advertisers on the principal media model.

“Principal media changes the nature of the relationship,” Lawson said. “It can deliver value, but it comes with trade-offs around transparency and objectivity that many organisations don’t fully understand.”

Chilon will also offer media governance workshops and advocacy services.

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