Arthur Fleischmann, Former WPP Canada Country Manager, Joins Listenmore Inc.

Arthur Fleischmann, one of the most respected figures in Canadian advertising, has joined Listenmore as an executive advisor. With over 30 years of experience steering top agencies like john st. and Ogilvy, Arthur’s appointment signals a new chapter for Canada’s leading agency search management company.

As the former co-founder and CEO of john st., and CEO of Ogilvy Canada, Arthur has played a pivotal role in driving growth, client relationships, and the integration of technology across networks. As the group CEO of john st. in 2019, and later as country lead for WPP Canada, he oversaw the delivery of integrated solutions for major clients across technology, commerce, and communications. Now, as an executive advisor at Listenmore, Arthur is poised to bring his wealth of knowledge to the firm's growing portfolio of clients.

“Listenmore’s philosophy of balancing client needs and fairness to agencies resonates with me,” he tells LBB. “Having led dozens of pitches in my career, I feel there is room to innovate the process. The nature of client needs, agency structures and capabilities, and shifting marketing dynamics suggests to me we can find new ways of approaching the relationship.”

His strategic approach encompasses a desire to streamline agency-client partnerships. “While I respect each clients’ protocols, I think simpler compensation models with greater emphasis on performance, value-based pricing, and less-reliance on hourly rates is the future, especially given the role of technology and remote sourcing.”

Arthur’s new role at Listenmore will also focus on advising clients on overcoming challenges posed by today’s fast-evolving marketing landscape. The company, known for its expertise in agency search management, aims to provide cutting-edge strategies that help brands make informed, effective decisions.

Reflecting on the importance of strong, long-term agency relationships, Arthur emphasised the need for accountability on both sides. “Both parties need an unbiased look in the mirror – at the start and throughout the relationship,” he explains. “Clients need to understand how their innate structure, processes and skill sets influence the outcomes. Agencies need to simplify how they get to solutions.”

According to Stephan Argent, founder and CEO of Listenmore, Arthur’s leadership and expertise will significantly enhance the firm’s ability to help clients succeed. “What Arthur doesn’t know about marketing, agencies, fostering agency relationships, and new business isn’t worth knowing. He is a visionary leader with an exemplary track record of success in the Canadian marketing industry.”

Arthur’s unveiling as executive advisor comes at a time when integrating new technology, particularly AI, is changing the landscape. While many are grappling with how to leverage automation – and the most effective way to do this – Arthur is confident that agencies should embrace technology as a valuable partner.

“We should automate that which can be automated,” he points out. “Repetitive processes, call and meeting summaries, basic analysis – this is not high-value work anymore. But if you’re not embracing AI as a thinking partner, an analytics partner, and to amp up your content creation, you’re missing out big time. Agencies should not be penalised for doing this – it should be an expectation of everyone in the business.”

As he embarks on this new journey, Arthur reveals he will continue his advisory practice, SENSE-MAKER. He believes today’s marketers must focus on shorter term goals, execution and “their next meeting.” The SENSE-MAKER team of strategists, data experts and creators work together to help clients make sense of ‘marketing chaos’. This approach combines deep industry insight with a devoted focus on collaboration and innovation, in a bid to solve today’s most pressing marketing challenges.

“I spend a healthy amount of my time reading, connecting with people outside of traditional roles, researching and writing,” says Arthur. “This is something clients may not have time to pursue anymore. Sadly, reflecting on the right problems to solve – and innovating to solve them – has fallen to the bottom of the priority list in most organisations.”

For Listenmore, Arthur’s arrival marks a pivotal moment as the firm continues to shape the future of marketing management and agency performance. His appointment signals not just an evolution for the leading marketing management, agency performance, and corporate advisory firm, but a vision for how the next generation of agency-client relationships can evolve in a rapidly changing world.