The Future of In-House Creative Leadership

In this episode I am joined by Christie Gray, the Creative Director and Design Lead at OVO - but soon to join Kimberly Clarke.Christie has over 12 years of experience in brand, packaging, advertising, and experiential design across multiple industries including FMCG, energy, and fashion. Before that, Christie co-founded FreshStudio, an independent design and 3D moving image company, and held positions at Clarks and Taxi Studio.---In our 2024 report we outlined why I believe we are in the beginnings of a fourth wave of in-housing creativity.Download the report for FREE here.

In this episode I am talking to James Verity, who is the Creative Director at The Jamie Oliver Group, leading the creative vision for one of the most recognised names in food and lifestyle. With 25 years of experience in the creative industry, James is known for his ability to blend storytelling with innovative design to create engaging brand experiences.Before going in-house James founded his own creative agency, Superfantastic, which specialised in brand, design and digital to visualise and communicate what makes brands special. Some of the brands James worked on included Intercontinental Hotel Group, Pernod Ricard, Contiki, Penguin Random House and Bikeability.At The Jamie Oliver Group, he has been instrumental in developing campaigns that promote sustainability and healthy living as well as culinary creativity.James has an unwavering commitment to excellence, collaboration and storytelling which is why he was one of our judges for the Inside Out® Awards in 2024. ---In our 2024 report we outlined why I believe we are in the beginnings of a fourth wave of in-housing creativity.Download the report for FREE here.

In this episode I am joined by Hugo Timm, an accomplished creative leader and branding expert who currently serves as the  Senior Creative Director at Frontify, a leading brand management platform. With a career spanning agencies and in-house roles, Hugo has built a reputation for his innovative approach to branding—one that champions flexibility, adaptability, and collaboration.In his role at Frontify, Hugo has been instrumental in shaping the company's brand evolution, recently leading the launch of their rebranding efforts. His unique jazz-influenced perspective challenges traditional notions of rigid brand rules and embraces the dynamic, ever-changing nature of modern branding.When he’s not driving creative strategies, Hugo is passionate about empowering teams, fostering collaboration, and rethinking how brands interact in a world full of opportunities for connection and reinterpretation.---In our 2024 report we outlined why I believe we are in the beginnings of a fourth wave of in-housing creativity.Download the report for FREE here.

In this episode I am talking to Jean Batthany, a purpose-driven Chief Creative Officer with over three decades of experience in advertising and marketing. Jean is known for her innovative approach to creative leadership and fostering diverse, collaborative teams.Jean's impressive career includes leadership roles at Walmart as Chief Creative Officer and VP, Global Creative at Walt Disney Parks, where she led its in-house agency, Yellow Shoes. Her expertise in transforming in-house agencies into innovative digital-first creative centres of excellence has been widely recognised in the industry.Jean's talent has earned her numerous accolades, including being named one of Business Insider's 30 Most Creative Women in Advertising. Her creative work has received multiple prestigious awards, including Addys, Cannes Lions, Clios, and Effies.Currently, Jean works as a Fractional Chief Creative Officer, where she is able to collaborate with purpose-driven leaders to launch, grow and evolve their brands at the same time as pursuing her personal mission to make the world more equitable, sustainable, and beautiful.---In our 2024 report we outlined why I believe we are in the beginnings of a fourth wave of in-housing creativity.Download the report for FREE here.

In this episode I am talking to Zoe Scaman, Founder of Bodacious, a full-service strategy studio about the future of branding.Zoe is a visionary strategist and entrepreneur who has made waves in the world of brand strategy, entertainment, and emerging technologies. Her bold and audacious thinking has shaped culturally compelling brands like Lego, Netflix and Oatly. If you follow Zoe you will know that she is well known for her intelligent thinking around the intersection between brand strategy, cultural trends, and technological advancements and knowing what needs to happen next.Zoe is a testament to the power of bold thinking and adaptability in the face of rapid cultural and technological shifts.For in-house creative leaders who are working with strategy and brand building in this increasingly complex and dynamic world can learn so much from Zoe.----In our 2024 report we outlined why I believe we are in the beginnings of a fourth wave of in-housing creativity.Download the report for FREE here:https://theinsideout.community/resources/the-future-of-in-house-creative-leadership/

Matt Watson, Executive Creative Director at Sips&Bites, PepsiCo's in-house creative agency. Matt is an award-winning creative leader who has shaped bold, entertaining campaigns for major global brands. His integrated thinking delivers ideas that capture attention and drive sales across platforms, showcasing his adaptability in a dynamic marketing landscape. As of 2024, Matt’s astonishing number of accolades and achievements includes three Cannes Lions, with six shortlist appearances; four D&AD Pencils - including a yellow pencil - and a Gold and two bronzes at Eurobest. Other wins include seven Creative Circles, a Drum Grand Prix, a Webby award and multiple Caples, LIA and Gold Drum awards. Sips&Bites has been named 4th most creative in-house agency in the world by D&AD and 10th most creative agency in the UK at Cannes Lions, while Campaign named Matt himself No.3 in-house creative leader in 2024. And a cease and desist from Mariah Carey to end the year! In our 2024 report we outlined why I believe we are in the beginnings of a fourth wave of in-housing creativity. Download the report for FREE here.

Simon Au is the North American Executive Creative Director at Kraft Heinz's internal agency, The Kitchen. Under his leadership, the agency has achieved remarkable growth, expanding to over 100+ team members spanning two countries and overseeing 15 brands, all within just two years. His leadership has transformed the agency into a nimble, culturally responsive creative powerhouse known for producing fast, innovative work. The agency has earned numerous awards worldwide, including recognition at Cannes and being named the Drum's Global In-House Agency of the Year, ANA In-House Agency of the Year, and Shorty small agency of the year.  Beyond his contributions to The Kitchen, Simon is a dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion in the industry, particularly championing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and LGBTQ+ representation throughout his career. --- In our 2024 report we outlined why I believe we are in the beginnings of a fourth wave of in-housing creativity. Download the report for FREE here: https://theinsideout.community/resources/the-future-of-in-house-creative-leadership/#resource-form

Nish Patel is the host of the CreativeOps Podcast, which explores the evolving landscape of in-house creative leadership, and the soon-to-launch Prompting Humans podcast, focused on the intersection of AI and human creativity in all its forms. Nish has been working with enterprise marketing and creative services departments over the last 10 years, after identified the emerging field of Creative Operations, he has been talking about it ever since at dozens of conferences, webinars, and even hosting industry workshops. Nish is THE evangelist of Creative Operations. Born in Canada with East Indian heritage, Nish’s identity is a blend of diverse influences, shaped by American culture and increasingly rooted in ancient Indian teachings. This unique combination has taught him to learn from the past, embrace an open mind, and remain optimistic about the boundless possibilities of tomorrow. --- In our 2024 report we outlined why I believe we are in the beginnings of a fourth wave of in-housing creativity. Download the report for FREE here: https://theinsideout.community/resources/the-future-of-in-house-creative-leadership/#resource-form

Omar Fahmi is a seasoned creative consultant and design director with over 15 years of experience which spans across advertising, marketing, automotive, telecoms, prop-tech, and education. He currently serves as the Creative Director for Virgin Media O2 Business, where he leads the in-house creative team and oversees external communications for Virgin Media, O2, and Virgin Media O2. Under his leadership, the team has achieved significant recognition, including a gold award at the B2B Marketing Awards 2022 and multiple nominations in various categories. Additionally, they have been finalists in the B2B Drum Awards for two consecutive years. --- In our 2024 report we outlined why I believe we are in the beginnings of a fourth wave of in-housing creativity. Download the report for FREE here: https://theinsideout.community/resources/the-future-of-in-house-creative-leadership/#resource-form

Rishad Tobaccowala, a renowned business strategist, author, and thought leader with over four decades of experience in marketing, technology, and the future of work. Known for his innovative thinking and human-centered approach. Rishad has advised global companies and C-suite leaders on digital transformation, organisational growth, and creative strategy. Formerly the Chief Growth Officer at Publicis Groupe, Rishad now focuses on helping individuals and companies navigate change and adapt to the evolving nature of work. He has recently released a new book, Rethinking Work, which provides fascinating insights on how to reshape our approaches to work and leadership which is why I was particularly keen to get him to join me on the podcast. Pre-Order Rishad's new book 'Rethinking Work' which is out on 4th Feb 2025 https://rishadtobaccowala.com/rethinking-work --- In our 2024 report we outlined why I believe we are in the beginnings of a fourth wave of in-housing creativity. Download the report for FREE here: https://theinsideout.community/resources/the-future-of-in-house-creative-leadership/#resource-form