We are VALENSTEIN&FATT.
You may know us as Grey London.
It’s a small name change, but a big deal.
We were founded in 1917
Born into a world of division and discrimination.
Our founders unable to put their own names
above their office door.
Fast forward to 2017
Everything has changed, and yet nothing has changed.
Too much in this world is still ugly. We know that the more diverse we are, the more powerful our ideas will be. So we will continue to celebrate difference. To break down barriers to progress and opportunity. We believe that everyone has the right to put their name above their door. Whoever you are, wherever you come from. We are Open.
On March 27th 2017, and for 199 days, Grey London became VALENSTEIN&FATT.
A mark of how far we’d come,
but how much there was still left to do.
Is Diversity Adland’s least effective campaign?
Grey London is determined to play its part in charting a better course for the world. That starts with the people we employ, the opportunities we give them and the work we make.
Diversity is good for business as well as society, and as an industry, we’re severely lacking. We are all guilty of too much talk, and not enough action. And while some progress has been made, there’s much more we can, and more importantly should, be doing.
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Recent events have sent shivers through our society and businesses, but they should also inspire a collective and determined attitude that our country and our companies will not change for the worse."
LEO RAYMAN CEO VALENSTEIN&FATT
So the lesson for leaders of today is to stop thinking that the great boss of the future looks like they looked when they were 21. We need our businesses to say to people don’t be like us, be yourselves, do something new, bring something that no one has seen before."
TREVOR PHILLIPS OBE, WRITER & BROADCASTER
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Difference isn’t a fucking business problem. It’s the solution that will drag this industry into the 21st century."
VICKI MAGUIRE JOINT CCO VALENSTEIN&FATT
VALENSTEIN&FATT will lead by example:
1
WE WILL PUSH FOR SMARTER, SHARPER, MORE TRANSPARENT DIVERSITY DATA
We know progress cannot be
made without clear measures and transparency about who we are today. Our own data is independent and in depth.
3
WE WILL LAUNCH THE VALENSTEIN&FATT BURSARY
A bursary to ensure we can help young people from less privileged backgrounds make the move to London by providing practical and financial support.
2
WE WILL INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION
Working with 100 primary and secondary schools to inspire a career in the creative industries.
4
WE WILL DEVELOP OUR TALENT
Ensuring regular, agency-wide diversity workshops and establishing a formal executive level mentor scheme for top diverse talent.
5
WE WILL BE LAUNCHING A CROSS INDUSTRY TASKFORCE
Identifying the barriers to recruitment and retention of diverse talent. And to ensure greater diversity on screen too.
VALENSTEIN&FATT