Our Industry Profile takes a look at some of the professionals working across the advertising, ad tech, marketing and media sector in Australia. It aims to shed light on the varying roles and companies across the buzzing industry.
Meet this week's industry profile, Richards Rose CEO Digby Richards.
Duration in current role/time at the company:
7 years.
In one sentence, how would you describe what the company does?
Our ideas move people and entire businesses.
In one sentence, what do you do day-to-day?
Help clients and staff get what they need.
Define your job in one word:
Conductor.
I got into advertising/ad tech/marketing etc because:
It looked like more fun than architecture.
What’s the biggest challenge you face in your role?
Helping clients become or remain ambitious.
What’s the biggest industry-wide challenge you’d like to see tackled?
Less celebration of tactics and short term shiny stuff, more celebration of business changing thinking and commercial creativity.
Previous industry related companies you have worked at:
Mainly Clemenger and WPP/Ogilvy Group – for the last 13 years in CEO roles in Asia and Australia.
Notable ads/campaigns you have worked on:
From helping launch Disneyland in Hong Kong to launching and still helping Stan become one of, if not Australia’s fastest growing brands.
Who is/has been a great mentor to you and why?
My wife Kerry, she’s a better conductor than me.
Words of advice for someone wanting a job like yours?
Keep it simple, keep it fun and have an open bar without a lock.
If I wasn't doing this for a living, I'd be:
Running the AFL; I’m a footy tragic.
My mantra / philosophy is:
If you asked my kids they would reluctantly say ‘life’s all about creating things and building stuff”.
My favourite advert is (and why):
Guinness Horses - it still moves me.
Music and TV streaming habits. What do you subscribe to?
Stan – Who is America? [priceless]
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I am taller than I appear.
In five years' time I'll be:
In France at the Rugby World Cup with my family.
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