Richard Hytner

Biography

Richard Hytner was Saatchi & Saatchi's CEO for EMEA, and worldwide deputy chairman for almost a decade, leading the advertising and communications company's strategy and innovation practice. Since then he has been Adjunct Professor of Marketing at London Business School, teaching on specialist programmes for companies including Ericsson, INEOS, Lloyds of London, Nestle, and Vodafone. As well as other LBS programmes covering brand and creativity, he is a part of the school's flagship Senior Executive Programme. He combines his perspectives on brand and innovation with his experience of leadership, exploring how to assemble and support an effective leadership team, drive and deal with change, and retain humanity amongst leaders.

With over three decades of experience helping senior teams define and realise ambitious goals, Richard looks at how meaningful change happens through open, respectful conversation rather than directives or planning documents. He examines leadership and strategy, addressing the complexity of leading teams, the importance of empathy and humility, and how each team member can flourish as individuals whilst empowering the whole team can compete and succeed. He also addresses creativity and innovation, challenging the notion that creativity is abstract, exclusive or the preserve of certain disciplines and departments, demonstrating how leaders can foster safe spaces where diverse teams generate effective solutions to a range of complex problems.

Richard is the author of Consiglieri: Leading from the Shadows, which analyses a form of leadership that supports, counsels, challenges and is accountable whilst not always being the most visible. An accredited business coach, Richard has served as a non-executive adviser and board coach to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner's Management Board. He is a director and board adviser to various organisations and was previously a trustee of the British Heart Foundation. He is co-founder of the Manchester United Supporters' Trust, a group that has helped many clubs navigate ownership issues and place fans at the centre of their team.