Young Gun: Ryvalmedia digital director Jonathan “JD” Henshaw

10 December 2020

Our Young Gun profile takes a look at some of the young talent across the advertising, adtech, marketing and media sector in Australia. It aims to shed light on the varying roles, people and companies across the buzzing industry.

Today we speak to Ryvalmedia digital director Jonathan “JD” Henshaw.

Time at the company: 
Four months.

How long have you been in the industry?
Around five years.

How did you get here? Was this always the plan?
I don’t think there is ever a ‘plan’ in this industry. I started out with a PR degree, worked at a holding company, then started my own agency. Now I am working with the fantastic team at Ryvalmedia. I definitely couldn’t have planned that!

Who is your right hand person?
Definitely my good friend Marcus Betschel. A great mentor, friend and advocate. Wouldn’t be here without him!

What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
I know that it might sound cliché but I do really love the fact that no two days are the same. The digital space is always changing and evolving meaning that you are constantly being kept on your toes.

And the biggest challenge?
The fact that it is always changing and evolving! It’s so easy for brands and companies to get left behind especially with COVID accelerating change in the market.

Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
I’m actively gunning for Joey Pardillo’s role as MD. It’s all part of my master plan to eventually rename RyanCap to JD-Cap…

Where do you turn for inspiration?
My faith plays a very active and important role in my life so I would definitely say that it is my inspiration to be the best that I can be both professionally and personally.

My favourite advert is:

This ad for Extra Gum. Loved it so much, my fiancé is walking down the aisle to the song next February (fingers crossed COVID permitting).

Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
I’m a pretty open book so I am not sure there is anything they don’t know about me to be honest. I guess the first thing people always want to know is where the D in ‘JD’ comes from. My middle name is Douglas. Yes – I have a very regal full name…

In five years' time I'll be:
Hopefully not having to work from home full time. I miss the office!

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