CEO, Howatson + Company
Chris is recognised for his ability to design, lead and embed brand, customer and technology transformation of bluechip companies. During his 8 year tenure as Group CEO of CHE Proximity Australia, he imagined a new type of agency, perfectly balancing customer consultancy with creative expression. Over this time CHE Proximity was recognised as WARC’s most creative agency in Australia (2019), WARC’s 3rd most effective agency in the world (2020), Contagious’ top 10 best and bravest agencies on the planet 4 years in a row (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020), Australian Financial Review’s 3rd most innovative Australian company (2019) and winner of AFR’s most innovative marketing solution four years in a row (2017, 2018, 2020, 2020). In 2017 and 2018 he was recognised as B&T’s ‘male champion of change’ across Australia marketing and media industries.
Chris started Howatson+Company with a vision to create a fully independent creative business responsible for re-establishing advertising as a multi-disciplinary profession and valued for generating economic value. In its first year the agency was named D&AD 2022 Global Independent Agency of the year, Mumbrella Emerging Agency of the year, growing to 110 people and welcoming 35 commercially, and creatively ambitious, clients.