Justin Hind officially finished at CHEP Network as chief executive officer on Friday to work on his new agency with wife Dominique Hind launching in June.
Ahead of his final day, Hind talked to AdNews about wrapping up at CHEP and what’s next.
“Everyone thought I was mad to take the role after Chris [Howaston] vacated it (to start his own agency),” Hind said.
“I had everyone tell me that CHEP wouldn't survive, but I thought fuck you - I'm going to put all my effort and energy into doing my best here.”
Industry insiders say Hind had a "cultural change" challenge at CHEP with reports of a high pressure toxic workplace.
Hind said: “We've been successful in bringing balance back to people's lives [at CHEP] and it's probably one of the things I'm most proud of.
“I'm glad to report that not only did we steer [CHEP] through a fractious period but we grew it.
“There is a view in agency land that to be successful you have to work people to the bone and be hyper-competitive. But if you get your structure and process right, you can do amazing work, while not negatively impacting someone's whole life.
“Every leader has a different view of culture. One thing I disagree with is wasted time and energy. So if people think to be competitive you have to work people till 11 o'clock every single night and on the weekends, they need to go and reassess what being competitive means.”
Hind will bring this leadership into his new 440 sqm agency located in The Rocks, ensuring to "provide an environment where people can flourish and feel accepted".
Justin Hind's new office, posted on LinkedIn.
“I've really enjoyed running a big business across Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. I've learned a lot and I'm a better person because of coming here,” Hind said.
But the idea of start his own agency again never left Hind after selling With Collective, started by his wife Dominique, to dentsu and exiting the business in November 2019.
After serving a gardening period, the Hinds were immediately going to start another agency. However, COVID induced anxieties put those plans on the back burner. Instead, Justin Hind was intrigued by "the ability to learn and partner with Rob Morgan" to run CHEP.
“I tried to push the need to do it again down for a long time, but I don't want to die wondering and that's the whole reason to do it again,” Hind said.
Hind has "no intent to poach people or clients from Clemenger".
“I've got great respect for Chris (Howaston). He's had success and that should be celebrated, but that wasn't my impetus.
“When I look back at our With Collective days, we set about to create something different and we did that very successfully. I loved every single minute of it, it was fast-paced and every success is yours and every failure is yours.
“The decision to do it again is something that I think is deep inside of me. I'm an entrepreneur at heart.”
Before joining his wife at With Collective, Hind got the "entrepreneurial bug" from running performance media agency Downstream Marketing which was acquired by Adobe Systems in 2011.
Husband and wife, Justin Hind and Dominique Hind.
“The market is looking more favourably upon independent agencies at the moment. That's a trend that I think makes it the right time for us to do something again,” Hind said.
Although competition is tough, with more creative agencies in the industry now, Hind is not worried.
Hind is confident his new agency will be more successful than With Collective and will offer a point of difference to other creative agencies.
“The independent space has gotten bigger because the market and clients - from enterprises to mid-market - want people with skin in the game, they want founders who die by how good they are and what service they create.
“Our agency will be thought-led with great creative, tech, data and experience. We’re a values-based agency and the values will run through everything we do from top to bottom.”
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