FOCUS: YEAR-END REVIEWS - Industry hopes dampened by talent dearth

<p>While the year grinds and grunts to an end, it is interesting to </p><p>reflect over past months that paradoxically, seem to have passed in the </p><p>blink of an eye. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>And in many ways, I see this as the theme for the year - a paradox, </p><p>oxymoron, call it what you will. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>For CIA Asia-Pacific across 2000, it could not have been a more </p><p>successful year. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>But thank God its coming to an end! </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Market conditions, while improving in some ways, have become </p><p>significantly more challenging in others and the year has been a tough </p><p>one industry wide. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Yet with CIA's billings up more than 65 per cent year-on-year, </p><p>significant improvements in margins and no senior staff losses, we find </p><p>ourselves at the end of 2000 in great shape with a world-class team and </p><p>our new business books full of exciting and interested prospects. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>It's clear that CIA's core value delivered through our independence from </p><p>the influences of advertising agencies and the resultant freedom to work </p><p>directly for clients in their best interest is at the very heart of our </p><p>competitive edge. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>If recent events are anything to go by, clients are putting an </p><p>increasing value on the services our independence allows us to </p><p>develop. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>We continue to benefit from the convergence of technologies and the </p><p>simultaneous evolution of the intra-relationships between the brand, </p><p>media channels and the consumer. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The inevitable need that these circumstances create for radically </p><p>different service models combined with our "challenger" business status, </p><p>facilitates the constant re-defining of our service offer. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>And this is great fun! </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>For the industry as a whole, 2000 was not an easy year. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The near total lack of new blood into the industry during the 1997-1999 </p><p>recession is now playing through and causing massive staffing problems </p><p>across all marketing services sectors regionally. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>There is a dearth of talent at all levels and obviously, no more so than </p><p>among those with two to three years' experience. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>As a result, salaries are spiraling up. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>In addition, in many cases individuals are being asked to take on </p><p>responsibilities beyond their ability and experience. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>On a partially more positive note, the worldwide crash of dotcoms has </p><p>made people think twice about jumping ship for a career in </p><p>cyberspace. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Yet at the same time and as a cause for grave concern, this is not </p><p>because the ad industry has got its house in order, but rather because, </p><p>the alternatives have crashed into oblivion. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>We have been given a second chance but, boy, the industry must grasp </p><p>this serendipitous opportunity with both hands. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>But it probably won't. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>