Summary of "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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Presenters

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

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