A Simple Agency
Each project has a “Project Lead”. The Project Lead is the person who’s most suited to deliver the core of the work. There is only ever one Project Lead per project.
A Project Lead will perform much of the role of a Project Manager. However, they are different from a Project Manager in that they actually do the work.
Project Leads work on one project at a time.
Each Project Lead has a “Project Partner”, who’s job is similar to an Exec Producer, without the heirarchical connotation. i.e.: the Project Partner feeds into the project, comes to important meetings, tries to protect the client’s interest and the quality of work.
Each client has an Account Manager. They are responsible for the client relationship and the financial performance of the account.
Where appropriate, the Project Partner will be the relevant Account Manager. There can be exceptions. For example, when the Project Lead is the Account Manager.
This structure will still require someone to handle new business enquries and someone to have an ‘accounts’ overview across all clients. Possible the same person.
That’s it. No support staff. No layers of abstraction between the client and the talent. No relaying of messages between doer and manager.
