Our Industry Profile takes a look at some of the professionals working across the advertising, adtech, marketing and media sector in Australia. It aims to shed light on the varying roles and companies across the buzzing industry.
This time we speak to Steve Fontanot, Managing Director, Red Havas Australia & Havas Blvd
Time in current role/time at the company:
1 year in current role and 5.5 years at Havas.
How would you describe what the company does?
I’m lucky to lead two agency brands; Red Havas and Havas Blvd. Collectively, we are Australia’s leading PR, social and brand experience agency, with content at its heart. We aim to make a meaningful difference to the brands, businesses, and people we work with.
What do you do day-to-day?
I’ve always thought it’s a Leader’s role to make themselves redundant. A focus on supporting and elevating others benefits your team, the business, and yourself. There may be a day that it doesn’t work out, but so far, so good.
Additionally, I enjoy working with my colleagues across the Havas world, to help grow a global PR network in Red Havas. We’re building something special, which will deliver great opportunities to our people and our Client Partners.
Define your job in one word:
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
I got into communications because:
I really wanted to join the advertising industry…nothing else came close. Some people thought I was crazy. “Why would you do that?” “Go client-side and you’ll have control.” “The money is shit!”
To be fair, they were right on that last one…the starting pay was seriously unliveable in those days. It didn’t matter. I wanted to work with interesting minds, on fun brands, doing cool stuff. I was blown away when I learned that there were people whose job it was to be curious every day. Nothing was going to stop me.
What’s the biggest challenge you face in your role?
When the ‘urgent’ takes priority over the ‘important’. Incredibly frustrating.
What’s the biggest industry-wide challenge you’d like to see tackled?
Much is being tackled already, thankfully. One area that doesn’t get enough attention is ageism. In an industry that can be obsessed with youth and ‘new’, I’m proud to say that we have a team that spans six decades.
It doesn’t happen accidently; you must create an environment for all ages and life stages to belong. Have you sat in meetings, workshops or brainstorms with colleagues in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s? Their experience, perspective, and wisdom, ensure that we’re an unstoppable force for greatness. I’m giving away my ‘secret-recipe’ right now…but this is one secret I’d love to see spread, far and wide.
Previous industry related companies you have worked at:
Chieftain Communications, Mango/DDB, Making Waves, Singleton Ogilvy & Mather, Maverick.
Notable campaigns you have worked on:
There’s been a bunch over the years that I’ve enjoyed, including filming a reality TV show in Tokyo for a telco, and bringing the FIFA World Cup Trophy to Australia. While they all make me smile, I’m most proud of the work that we do with the wonderful humans at Canteen, to support young people impacted by cancer. Warms my heart.
Who has been a great mentor to you and why?
The older you get, the greater the opportunity you’ve had to meet brilliant minds. But I’ll reflect on the OG mentors; My Mum, for her strength, determination and kindness. My Dad, for teaching me that you should never make decisions that question your integrity or character. And to both, for demonstrating what really matters in life.
Words of advice for someone wanting a job like yours?
Even if math/finance isn’t your friend, learn how the numbers work. It’s important to respect your Clients’ money, as well as how your agency model works. It’ll help define your career, as well as put you in the best possible place to create ways to support and grow your people.
Also, a leader I really admire once told me; “You can have a serious job without taking yourself too seriously”. I think about that often.
If I wasn't doing this for a living, I'd be:
Trying to find a way to do this for a living.
My philosophy is:
Anyone who’s worked with me over the years has heard me say; “We win together, we lose together. We laugh together, we cry together. Always together”. When I heard that Havas’ global philosophy was “Better Together”, it felt serendipitous. It was one of the deciding factors on why I accepted the offer to join the Group.
My favourite advert is:
There’s so many. From Apple’s “Crazy Ones”, to Carlton Draught’s “Big Ad”, to Yellow Pages’ “Not Happy, Jan.”
However, my all-time favourite is Cancer Council’s “Slip! Slop! Slap!” from the 80’s, with Sid the Seagull. It changed the behaviour of a generation of Aussie kids…me included.
Music and TV streaming habits. What do you subscribe to?
My top picks are Spotify and Kayo.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I wear my heart on my sleeve. Jokes! It’s not a secret, everyone knows that.
In five years' time I'll be:
I’ll be wondering what I’ll be doing in five years’ time.
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