Coffee Break: Employee Secondment | Sherpa Marketing

Coffee Break: Employee Secondment | Sherpa Marketing

This video features Matt Worobec and Pyper Rouse-Cringan discussing the concept and practical experience of employee secondment in a marketing agency context, specifically Sherpa Marketing’s arrangement with a large agriculture client.

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Key Business Insights and Frameworks

Employee Secondment as a Strategic Solution

• Secondment involves temporarily loaning an employee from an agency to work embedded within a client’s internal team.
• It was used here as a response to a client’s hiring freeze during a merger, which left a critical marketing role vacant.
• The initial plan was a short-term (3 months) secondment, extended to a full year due to ongoing client needs and transitions.

Operational Model & Work Arrangement

• Pyper worked on-site with the client 4 days a week, returning to Sherpa 1 day a week to maintain agency ties and knowledge sharing.
• This hybrid model helped maintain project continuity both at the client and agency level.
• Challenges included workload management and balancing responsibilities between client and agency.

Relationship & Knowledge Transfer Benefits

• Strengthened the agency-client relationship through deep integration and trust.
• Enabled Pyper to gain extensive institutional knowledge about the client’s business, enhancing Sherpa’s marketing effectiveness and client service.
• Allowed for better coordination between Sherpa and other agencies working with the client.

Recommendations & Lessons Learned

• Before starting a secondment, clearly define:
  • The client’s needs (e.g., full-time vs. part-time presence)
  • The agency’s expectations for employee involvement and retention
• Consider flexible arrangements (e.g., 3/2 day splits) to balance workload and maintain agency connection.
• Recognize secondment as a proven, though sometimes overlooked, tactic in agency-client collaboration, alongside contracting and other staffing solutions.
• Ensure the secondee remains engaged with the agency culture and knowledge base to avoid isolation.

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Metrics, KPIs, and Targets

• No explicit financial metrics or KPIs were discussed.
• Timeline: Initial 3-month secondment extended to 12 months due to evolving client needs.
• Work schedule: 4 days/week on client site, 1 day/week at agency.

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Concrete Examples & Case Study

• Pyper’s secondment to a large agriculture client undergoing a merger and hiring freeze.
• Immediate impact: Day 1 on-site integration, leading marketing plans and maintaining client momentum.
• Collaboration with Sherpa account teams and external agencies improved service delivery.

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Actionable Recommendations

• Evaluate secondment as a strategic staffing option for clients facing hiring constraints or transitional periods.
• Set clear expectations and communication channels upfront for secondees, clients, and agencies.
• Maintain regular agency contact to support employee morale and knowledge exchange.
• Leverage secondment to deepen client relationships and build proprietary client knowledge.

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Presenters

• Matt Worobec – Host, Sherpa Marketing
• Pyper Rouse-Cringan – Account Manager, Sherpa Marketing, and secondee to client marketing team

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This discussion provides a practical playbook for agencies considering employee secondment to enhance client service, manage capacity, and strengthen partnerships during client organizational changes.