Two minutes about me
I have successfully run business development for design firms, branding agencies, out-of-home management companies, consultancies, full service agencies, digital agencies and boutique agencies.
For the last forty seven years I crafted pitch strategies and lead new business charges that helped all these agencies win more than $250,000,000 in new annual billings.
- Mentoring and coaching
- Agency marketing plan diagnostics
- Improving your conversion rate so you can pitch less, win more
- Your agency branding, let’s take a look
- How to craft a winning RFP that guarantees you make the finals
- Top five new business hacks that never fail
- The “go-no-go” formula that helps you pick a winner prospect before you climb into the ring
If I may be the new business coach your agency needs, a 15 minute conversation is all it will take to know if we are a good fit.
Recommendations
“I had the pleasure of working with John for nearly two decades, and we were very fortunate to have his business development talent and tenacity on our team. We worked together and made our agency better.”
DAVID BOHAN, Founder, Owner
“John is a friend and mentor, and for the agencies where he has served, he is at the core of new business wins with nationally known brands. No one does a better job than John of leading a pitch team or creating new business opportunities.”
MICHAEL GASS,
Ad Agency Business Development Consultant, Trainer, Speaker, Author
“I’ve worked with John at three different companies in various capacities. He brings ideas to the table that inspire others to make better advertising. In his long career, John has developed long-lasting relationships with clients and agency personnel alike, and he’s one of my favorite people in the advertising business.”
S.A. HABIB, Founder
“New Business is both a trade and an art, and John Sharpe is the consummate New Business professional. He taught me everything I know about business development when I was lucky enough to be his apprentice.”
CHRIS CAHILL, Mentored in business development by John Sharpe
“I worked with John Sharpe at two different agencies, and the results were always the same. Stellar. As both an account manager and as a new business director, John brought a unique blend of charisma, curiosity, charm and empathy to work with him every day. That made him a highly valued and cherished component of both agencies’ success and culture – and those of our clients. He is the most thorough, strategic and candid new business executive I’ve ever known (and I’ve worked at 9 agencies).”
KERRY GRAHAM, Proprietor
“John Sharpe is one of the most capable agency professionals I have known. Besides heading our account service, he had an amazing ability to identify and land new business. Through those years he gained a deep understanding of the agency business fundamentals. If you have questions, concerns or doubt about where you are and where you should head, he will give you lucid and practical council. A real and valuable outside asset…”
JEFFREY BUNTIN SR., Founder
“As an agency, your toughest client is often your own shop. It’s very similar to the old proverb ‘the cobbler’s children have no shoes.’ That’s when we turn to John, who has been a sage voice for us for many years. He’s seen it all, done it all and continues to offer invaluable insight on new business and other agency topics.”
HENRY CHASSAIGNAC, President/ECD
“John is an elite new business professional. He has a proven record for establishing disciplined processes for new business and knows how important it is to customize each and every approach according to the opportunity. He’s a great partner and a consummate pro. You won’t find a stronger player out there anywhere.”
GREGG BOLING, President, COO
“I absolutely hit the best professional jackpot of my life when I started working for and with John Sharpe. He is thoughtful and intuitive and attends to gritty new business details with supreme focus. The word mentor should have John Sharpe in its definition.”
YELENA COOKE, Former new business lead
“John Sharpe teaches you on the sly. You don’t know you’re being taught and all of a sudden you’ve learned something truly important. He’s a true, unique professional, and the smartest guy I know in the marketing business.”
HANNAH PARAMORE BREEN, Founder, Owner, Author, Speaker