41. Leadership duality, Digitas, & Sober, Tipsy, Drunk with Simon Brock

How can we strike the right balance between business smarts and creative freedom to drive brand success?

In this episode of the b-side, I sit down with Simon Brock, a digitally-native creative and agency leader who's reshaping the advertising world by serving as both the ECD (Executive Creative Director) and Managing Director at Digitas ANZ, effectively bridging the gap between traditional roles.

Since 2016, Simon has been at the helm of Digitas ANZ's creative department, crafting impactful stories and experiences for brands like Arnott’s, EA Games, Pernod Ricard, and Virgin Australia. We delve into a range of compelling topics, including: Balancing creativity and business growth within the unique framework of Simon's dual roles. Leveraging data-driven insights while preserving the emotional and human elements in today's data-rich marketing landscape. Strategies for adapting creative concepts across various channels, capitalising on each platform's strengths. Managing the equilibrium between personalised messaging and user privacy amidst evolving regulations. And he shares his novel 'Sober, Tipsy, Drunk' method of creative development, fostering calculated risk-taking and agile campaign adaptations to changing market conditions.

This episode offers an insightful exploration of marketing technology, digital strategies, and multi-channel creativity. Simon's exceptional perspective as both a creative and business leader makes this conversation truly valuable. I hope you find our discussion as enlightening as I did.

Cheers