The first job I had was as a media buyer at Zenith Media in the 90’s when there was a handful of commercial channels and “digital” didn’t exist. Ashley Bolt, a Managing Partner at Havas Media is a really good mate – he’s my husbands BFF and has always been at the forefront of the industry working with brands like Puma, Disney and Kia. Talking to him about how the advertising giants manage the mega buck campaigns is always fascinating so it was a pleasure when Ashley agreed to be part of my blog series.
The Marketing Minds series delves into the minds of some inspirational people involved in the wonderful world of Marketing and asks them to answer a set of questions that probe into their career journey and what inspires them. This is what Ashley had to say.
1.What’s your name?
Ashley Bolt
2. Where do you work and what do you do?
Managing Partner at Havas International. My remit is to grow client’s business, supporting & developing their business strategies and steering clients through the world of media.
3. What’s your career path been like and how did you end up where you are?
The majority of my career has been spent working in media agencies. It has taken some hard-work, a lot of fun, a bit of luck and some amazing & supportive people
4. What elements of your job do you dislike?
Lack of preparation. It just wastes time for everyone.
5. What’s your favourite brand and why?
Patagonia – I really like their business ethic around the environment and social responsibility. It would be great if more brands were aware of their impact on the world & behaved differently.
6. What’s your favourite advert of all time?
Anything that makes me smile. I love it when brands capture or act on a moment e.g. Oreo lights out. The 90’s Jaffa Cake ‘total eclipse’ ad always made me smile.
7. What advice would you give your 20 year old self if you could go back in time?
Travel more! The world is a big place.
8. What makes you get out of bed in the morning?
Cliché I know, but genuinely working with a great group of people that I can learn from every day and make it fun.
9. What is the creative idea or innovation that you wish you’d thought of first?
There are too many great innovations that I wish I had thought of first. The one that impacted me a lot was the original iPod. The perfect package
10. What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?
An early morning bike ride with a mate followed by a day messing around outside with my family
11. What was the last thing you learned?
Recently I started working with a new client in an industry that is new to me. Learning new industry terminology, understanding supply chains, new business models, new objectives & goals has all been incredibly interesting.
12. Which blog or podcast are you currently listening to / would recommend?
Joe Rogen Experience – some really interesting guests and his relaxed style gets his guests talking. Also, any podcast by Stephen Fry is always a really good listen.
13. What 3 words sum you up?
Friendly, motivated, open-minded
14. Who do you most admire and why?
Too difficult to answer as there are so many.
15. Do you think technology is killing creativity in marketing or helping it?
Neither, I think it is just changing it. Brands/Marketeers have to adapt and find those key moments to communicate & standout through whatever channel. Brands that have worked this out are producing some really creative marketing moments.
16. What’s the work you are most proud of?
It is usually the last thing that I have worked on. I once mocked up an online banner in PPT to illustrate how dynamic creative could work for a client. A week later we received the creative and it was my mock-up…so I’m quite proud (& amused) that my creative was used for a global campaign
17. What are you going to do now?
Going to Camden to see a band with a pal
If you’ve enjoyed my talk with Ashley Bolt, then why not read the other interviews in the Marketing Minds series here and if you want to find out more about GingerTree then visit my homepage here.
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