An occasional column. Simon Hadfield In Conversation.
This times it is Paul Williams, founder & CEO of BWM Dentsu.
It’s been over 12 months since your earn out, what have you been up to?
Well, after 25 years of running BWM, and then BWM Dentsu the first thing I did was get on a plane mucked about in Europe, USA and Cuba which was kinda cool…and now I’ve returned I’ve adjusted pace by sitting on my deck watching the sailing boats breeze by!
With regard to forced labour, once we’d finalised the earnout my non-competes placed limits on me for a couple years.
But I’ve been doing some mentoring with a couple of senior industry people which has been fun and rewarding.And I’ve helped one agency approach its own management buyout from its international partner.
After 2 sales of BWM, and 4 of our own acquisitions it turned out that I actually had something useful to add to the discussion!
What’s on the horizon? If anything!
Well around the industry, a California agency is talking to me re an NED role but mostly I’m pounding completely untrodden pastures ...for me!
I’ve started a new environmental packaging company with an industrial designer, and we have a global patent for a game changer piece of packaging in the rPET industry. So, I’m in discussions with some of the big brand players re: alliances for potential global rollouts.
I’m learning as we go but it’s a lot easier than doing a 5 way agency pitch!
Do you have any observations on the industry?
Mmm…I’ve said my piece over the years. The great sadness for me is the de-priorisation of brand and creative power in the business system. But like all things it’s cyclical and I’m convinced it will be rediscovered.
I’ve always argued that Creativity is the modern form of patent.
So keep fighting the Good Fight creative muses, it will return I promise you as data will commoditise!
What advice would you give your younger self?
I’d say, if you want to be a leader, at the end of the day people won’t remember what you did nor will they remember what you said.
They will just remember how you made them feel.
Outssde of business, what keeps you out of trouble?
Well BWM always had a bit of a reputation for being a “livelier fun “sort of place and we had a great culture, but I think the brutal introspective truth to that question is ”getting older!”
So being comfortable in the tepee, with the idea of not being the Warrior Brave but the Old Wise Council is perhaps the secret here.
Any big regrets over the years?
Very few thankfully. Over the years we were lucky enough to work with many of Australia’s largest blue-chip companies and to learn from them. And of course, to work with some of our industry’s best and brightest.
Our first sale to Photon … we should have taken cash not stock (always easy in hindsight) but this was offset by a great partnership and outcome with our 2nd sale to Dentsu.
Over our time, we had offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Dubai, perhaps if we’d had bigger cahoonas maybe we should have had a crack at the US.
But most importantly Rob, Jamie and I are still good friends, and we remain close to many people who have been in the BWM family - the industry has treated us very well. And it’s good for us to put it back in.
So probably a bit Edith Piaf..but ….
What are you driving, what are you listening to and what are you watching?
Driving: If I told you you'd call me a W*r....which my wife absolutely assures me I am.
Listening: Any podcast on the current Euro geopolitical environment....we're at an inflexion point in history.
Watching: I Hate Suzy, how cool is Billie Piper? White Lotus, "jeez wish I'd thought of that formula"!! and Taboo (the amazing Tom Hardy enthrals again!)
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