How should a new agency leader make their mark? With Conrad Persons, Grey London

Author: Campaign Magazine
Published: Tue 11 Feb 2025
Episode Link: https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/resources/podcasts

When a new boss steps in to lead an agency, they must weigh up how much they change the business and how much the business changes them.

Conrad Persons, president of Grey London, who joins the podcast team in this latest epsiode, says: "'That’s how we do things round here' is one of the most abominable phrases in business."

Persons is joined by Campaign's deputy editor, Gemma Charles, and premium content editor, Nicola Merrifield. The episode, hosted by tech editor Lucy Shelley, looks at balancing change, the importance of likability and technology's impact on leadership.

Last year a raft of CEOs in the industry swapped seats, making news headlines across adland. They included Natalie Cummins, who left Publicis Media after 17 years to become CEO of EssenceMediacom, and Kate Rowlinson, who became Group M CEO. Xavier Rees left Havas as group CEO of UK creative to lead Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, and the subject of Campaign’s Top people move of the year, James Murphy, became group CEO of Ogilvy after selling NCA to WPP.

So how does a new agency leader make their mark, and how much change is too much?

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How should a new agency leader make their mark? With Conrad Persons, Grey London