Not the usual beast!

The Cossette-owned Band & Brown Group has launched a full service social media agency with support from some of the biggest names in the business.   Brando Social is led by ex-JWT digital specialist Jamie Burke and has a roster of non-executive consultants including Euan Sample, former BBC Director of Knowledge Management and Dr Chris Thorpe, technology advisor to MySpace and The Guardian.   Burke has appointed leading social media strategist and top blogger David Cushman to run the consulting business.   Cushman said: Our people are global authorities - published authors, world-class speakers, deeply ingrained and experienced in social media .We advise organisations on how to adapt to the rapidly changing media landscape and flourish in a networked world”   Burke added: “Social media is now the largest of all media, accounting for 50% of all time spent by consumers. Brands and organisations can no longer ignore that or expect that social media can be something they consider fringe or experimental activity – it should be core to what they do.”   In addition to consultancy, Brando Social will offer a full range of social media services from monitoring and outreach through to widget and application build.   Through a network on international alliances, the firm is able to offer a truly global service.   The new agency will be part of Cossette’s UK network which includes, MCBD, Dare, Elvis, Spike, Identica, Band & Brown and Brando.     WWW.BRANDO-SOCIAL.COM