The CEO Magazine: Tell us about Dentsu Aegis Network and what you do.
Luke Littlefield: As a pioneering organisation offering media, digital, and creative communication strategies across 24 different agencies, Dentsu Aegis Network is innovating in the way it helps its client’s build their brands through transformational solutions.
We have a global and local network of brands, and specialise in providing best-in-class expertise in the areas of digital creative execution, media planning and buying, mobile applications, search and performance, content creation, brand activations and tracking, public relations, lifestyle marketing, and marketing analytics.
My role is to create the vision for the group, and then lead and inspire our executives and staff in delivering on it for the benefit of our client’s and partners.
What does it take to be successful in your role?
Having a vision, demonstrating leadership, and bringing others along on the journey with you.
What is your advice to others wanting to take the same journey?
Understand who you are and what you want to achieve. Focus on your positioning. Be guided by your values.
What has been a key challenge and how have you overcome this?
Being acquired by a new parent company presented me with both an opportunity and a challenge. Going through this process has confirmed the importance of providing clear and direct leadership and forming a team that is on board with the change.
Throughout our transition, I learnt that having a clear vision, underpinned by a performance-based culture and keeping your values at the heart of all decisions is critical to a smooth integration without any loss of momentum. In fact, it also led to a significant increase in profitability.
Who helped you get to this position?
There is no single individual who has helped me, there have been many and varied contributors along the way.
What does it mean to be a finalist in the Executive of the Year awards?
Pride in being the leader of an outstanding team and business who share a vision and collaborative passion in achieving it.