My New Favorite Follow is @JeffreyHayzlett

Ok so I can’t go into the details, it’s all NDA and shit. Can’t even show you the video he showed us.

But I can at least say Kodak’s CMO Jeff Hayzlett is an animal like no other. And it’s not just the belt buckle, the boots and the balls.

Handsome, ain’t he? The guy’s even sporting some classic Kodak-colored formalwear.

If you were running marketing for a company that’s 130 years old, the company that invented motion picture film, whose business technically should have died with the invention of digital cameras…wtf would you do?

And what would you wear on the red carpet?

After his private presentation here, Wednesday, caused some “trouble” (the good kind), I was supposed to interview him in front of all my bosses. Humbling? Slightly. I only asked him one question before I launched into the Q&A part with audience. My question was, “Do you actually have any friends at work, Jeff?”

Months ago, Jeff said something once that I’ll never forget:

The worst thing you can say about Kodak is nothing. We want to hear the bitches and the moans and everything else that’s going on out there. Twitter and social media gives us the opportunity to engage.

He’s also made me think more on the expectations of our viewers and our users, and the promises we make them. What happens when the promise of a network conveys expectations that we sometimes, admittedly, do not deliver on as much as we should?

Kodak was founded in 1880. What strikes me about Jeff is how — using twitter, his blog, and worldwide speaking engagements — he’s turned the traditionally opaque office of a CMO into one that’s completely transparent. You can literally watch him reinventing Kodak from the ground up, minute by minute.

One way is to follow him on twitter, where he’s just behind QuestLove of the Roots and SouljaBoy as my most frequent tweeters. Here are some classic Jeff Hayzlett tweets:

Broke down and washed my truck. But does not mean i will fix the 2 cracks in the windshield.

Enjoying a backyard fire and watching fire flies. Makes me want to get a mason jar and catch a bunch.

At eye doc for lasik check — i like to cross my eyes when i walk in @ tell receptionist — look what you did!!!

Ashamed at what i did for a Klondike bar

This week I bestow on Jeff the honor of being my “Follow Friday” favorite twitterererer.

Wish I could tell you his “Carpet Cleaning” story, or his story about corporate photos….


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8 responses to “My New Favorite Follow is @JeffreyHayzlett”

  1. Staci Bird Avatar
    Staci Bird

    I follow Hayzlett too — pure change agent saving Kodak, one tweet at a time

  2. wheelerjt Avatar
    wheelerjt

    cool, hadnt heard of him and not sure i'm done hearing about him. thanks for headsup

  3. kimber james Avatar
    kimber james

    he has earned my follow, ross. he should thank you for the love.

  4. tom tom Avatar
    tom tom

    Kodak is the best case study, and not done yet, they still have a chance. I would be curious to hear if people think Kodak will make it. So many new products they've bet the whole business on. But I see now ads from them? Does Jeff not believe in advertising? Is he buying ads on MTV and VH1? if I were him I would target CMT first and own it.

  5. @JeffreyHayzlett Avatar

    Ross, thanks for the love! 🙂 And the chance to speak to a great group of people at MTV and family. Kodak has its mojo back and we look forward to showing others!

  6. @SkeeterHarris Avatar

    Jeff is doing an incredible Job rebranding and changing perception of Kodak – He is very engaging!

  7. @twofones Avatar

    Hey Ross, did the meeting go something like this:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2bLNkCqpuY

    (Btw, Hayzlett was inspiring wasn't he? I ran out and bought a Zx1 later that day…)

  8. Ross Martin Avatar

    Great call on the Mad Men clip, Greg. And we should go check out the flooring in Rochester soon…

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