Why would a creative director want to become Global Head of Brand?

Ross Sutherland

“there were only ever three things needed to do good work”…

Ross Sutherland is the worldwide head of brand at HP. Prior to that he’s been an agency-side creative (notably at seven Ogilvy offices worldwide) and a big cheese at plenty of other noted agencies.

So he is a good example of a poacher turned gamekeeper, or perhaps the other way around.

For those of us who have not walked both sides of the road this begged the question…Ross, Why would a creative director want to become Worldwide Head of Brand?

I want more on my headstone than “HE DID A FEW GOOD ADS”.

In my meandering advertising experience there were only ever three things needed to do good work. Creative people who could create it, agency management that wanted it and a client who would buy it.

In that trinity the client has always held the most sway. When presented with the idea of a butterfly some shove it straight into a killing jar, some pull one wing off, rendering it incapable of flight and some embrace it. Once in a while somebody will even insist that the wings be more colourful still.

The opportunity to be at the top of the pecking order proved irresistible to me. Now I can go back to what I really want on my headstone. “I TOLD YOU I WASN”T FEELING WELL”.

Ross Sutherland, A Curate's EggRoss Sutherland, A Curate's Egg

www.store.hp.com

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