E20 | Learning To Be True To Yourself | Xavier Rees, UK Group CEO, Havas Creative Network
Episode description
Xavier Rees is widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful campaigning leaders in the industry. Since joining Havas in 2016, Rees has spearheaded a remarkable transformation of its reputation and business performance – leading his agencies to major new accounts including Asda, Volkswagen Group UK, and the Department for Education.
Now UK Group CEO of Havas Creative Network, his innovative approach to marketing has earned him numerous awards and accolades.
We discuss:
-Growing up with two different family dynamics
-Managing greeting cards at Boots to becoming Account Executive at Grey
-Becoming Account Director at age 23
-Navigating fatherhood at age 27
-Why being an ‘Alpha Male’ isn’t always the best leadership approach
-A life changing conversation with your boss
-Doubting if you’ll ever become CEO of an agency
-Becoming CEO of two agencies at the same time
-Balancing a tough time at home with a busy work life
Chapters:
(00:00:00) A Glimpse into Adversity and Success at Havas Creative
(00:05:35) Building Reputation in the UK Market
(00:11:04) Feeling on the Edges
(00:15:58) Taking a Different Path
(00:21:27) Finding Freedom and Energy at an Ad Agency
(00:26:41) Learning from Mistakes and Taking Feedback
(00:31:55) Challenges of Work-Life Balance for Working Parents
(00:37:22) Valuing Women's Contribution Differently
(00:42:40) Discovering Personal Style in the Workplace
(00:47:57) The Importance of Understanding the Human Behind the Role
(00:53:28) Not Considered Top Candidate
(00:58:47) The Frightening Moment of Making a Difficult Decision
(01:04:22) Allocating Revenue for Impactful Change
(01:09:27) Trusting your Gut in Decision Making
(01:14:32) Balancing Work and Personal Challenges
(01:19:42) The Challenges of Healthcare Coverage
(01:24:29) Prioritizing Family and Self Care
(01:30:00) Career Changes and Managing Multiple Agencies
(01:35:28) Managing Multiple Agencies
(01:40:34) The Importance of Being Responsive and Available
(01:45:30) Measuring Client Satisfaction and Financial Performance
(01:50:38) The Importance of Creating an Inclusive Environment
(01:56:04) Retaining Talent for a Competitive Advantage
(02:01:15) The Importance of Balancing People, Profit, and Planet
(02:06:29) Making a Positive Impact in the Industry
(02:11:47) The Impact of Leadership Styles & Following Your Dreams
(02:17:18) Leading with Truth and Endurance
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Unity & Motion - A London based production company specialising in commercials and branded content
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This is a UNIFY Podcast. Produced by Unity & Motion
Credits:
Director: Charles Parkinson
Poet & VO Artist: Ashley Samuels-McKenzie
Editor: Catherine Singh