Chris Hirst – Former Global CEO Havas Creative Group

Key Topics and Themes

The five golden rules for inspiring and effective leadership.

Superpower: What culture is, why it matters and how to be brilliant at it.

Revolution: Leading transformational change in a world that has never moved so fast.

The Agency Equation: A proven formula for building world-beating consultancy businesses.

ABOUT CHRIS

Chris Hirst is a change agent, widely recognised as an innovative and inspirational leader and speaker. He is the former Global CEO of Havas Creative Group and UK CEO of Grey (part of WPP).

After more than a decade in CEO positions he has a proven track record of leading successful transformation programmes, guiding his businesses to record growth, product reinvention, reputational change and a culture of enduring success.

He is founder of leadership consultancy Dogsbody Group, speaker, columnist and author.

His first book, No Bullsh*t Leadership (Profile Books, 2019) has been a No.1 best-seller for over 36 months and is available around the world.

It was named UK Business Book of the Year in March 2020. Based on his hard-won experience this smart, engaging book wipes away the bullshit that surrounds conventional leadership theory and is a proven step-by-step working manual on how to lead – for anyone.

Full of universally applicable and direct advice, it demystifies an over-analysed subject to get to the heart of modern leadership: the life-changing, career-transforming power to get stuff done.

A recommended essential read in the FT, it was described by Sir Clive Woodward as, ‘a brilliant set of leadership tools that will help you succeed, whatever your goals.’ As Global CEO, Havas Creative Group

Chris led more than 10,000 people across all Havas’ global territories, taking the business from an ‘also ran’ to second place in Campaign Magazine’s global rankings in three short years.

He oversaw two years of record growth and profits and was shortlisted as global CEO of the year in 2022. During his 5-year tenure as UK CEO of Grey (part of WPP), the agency more than tripled in size, and quadrupled its profit during its transformation into one of the hottest, fastest growing and most creatively respected agencies in the world.

A graduate of Brasenose College Oxford (MEng Engineering Science) and Harvard Business School (Advanced Management Program), Chris writes a monthly column for Management.

Today, is the founder of leadership consultancy Dogsbody Group Ltd, has over ½ million listens for his No Bullsh*t Leadership podcast, and is a regular commentator in press and broadcast media.

No Bullsh*t Leadership

Based on the best-selling and award-winning book of the same name.

Leadership is difficult but not complicated. Chris wipes aways the guff and bullshit to get to the heart of modern leadership: the life-changing, career-transforming power to get stuff done.

Revolution: Leading Change

The only constant we now face is change, and the demand for those who can grasp its opportunities has never been greater.

Drawing on over a decade of experience leading successful change programmes around the world, Chris shares his proven strategies for team, organisational and cultural transformation.

Chris’ new book, No Bullsh*t Change is published through Profile Books in Spring 2023.

Superpower: What culture is and why it matters

Culture is the environment the leader creates in order for their teams to out-perform.

The defining experience for people in organisations big and small is the culture yet it is so often miss-understood, or even forgotten about all together.

Culture is the environment the leader creates in order for their teams to out-perform.
The ability to change, nurture and sustain a world-class culture is a leader’s superpower, here Chris shares the secret to how to do it time and again.

Endorsements

His clarity of thought and judgement make Chris a rare breed. I really value his grasp of what it takes to lead effectively and the straight-talking way he does it.

Nina Bibby, SVP Consumer Segment Marketing Verizon

One of my favourite books on leadership. Chris had me nodding from the first chapter.

Kim Faura COO Giff Gaff

A brilliant leader with sound knowledge and insights; simple yet effective.

Sachin Mehta, Country Manager India, William Grant & Sons