Rory Sutherland

Fee Band


One of the most respected creative thinkers in the ad industry, Ogilvy’s Vice-Chairman once suggested to Microsoft that they enable people to share office documents on the internet. The idea was dismissed but Rory has gone on to build a career out of the counter-intuitive and the original. With a sharp wit he examines what influences our choices and why irrational thinking tends to win out.


Biography

Rory Sutherland is the Vice-Chairman at media and ad company Ogilvy UK. Combining creative thinking with a passion for behavioural science he examines why people think, buy, vote or act the way they do, what influences them, and why they're so frequently irrational in their choices. Widely considered one of the leading real-world practictioners of behavioural science, he looks at what can be learned about the responses and reactions of employees, customers and the public and how that can guide the future of business and society.

After a spell teaching at a grammar school (and finding his colleagues far more challenging than the pupils), Rory joined the Creative Department at Ogilvy as a junior copywriter. He worked on accounts including American Express, Royal Mail, and the relatively obscure software company Microsoft. Despite approaching Microsoft with the idea of a system whereby people could share Office documents over the nascent internet and being roundly rejected, Rory went on to help found OgilvyOne, the group’s dedicated digital and direct agency. He remains an advocate of so-called ‘360 Degree Branding’ ensuring brands have a coherent, joined-up presence in all relevant media areas. Rory was appointed Head of Copy, and shortly afterwards Creative Director of Ogilvy. He has also served as the president of the Institute of Practioners in Advertising (IPA) - the first ‘creative’ to do so. Ogilvy is now part of the massive WPP ad and media group and count Ford, Unilever, IBM, American Express, BP, and British Airways amongst their top accounts.

Now as Vice-Chairman, Rory shares his passion for psychology, behaviour and thinking differently with colleagues, clients and the wider world. He is the founder of Nudgestock, the global festival of behavioural science, and the author of Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don't Make Sense, examining the increasing role of the irrational in decision making. He also fronts the podcast On Brand where he discussed the future of media and marketing with industry names.

With characteristic wit and erudition Rory looks at the successes, the failures and the outright bizarre from the world of advertising and commuincations, and asks 'why?'. He analyses what branding means, what creativity is, and the value of persuasion over compulsion. In particular he looks at why individuals and groups, consumers and employees, often make the unexpected or 'wrong' decision, when that choice can be changed, or when it actually shows us the way to go.

Videos of Rory Sutherland

JLA Speakers Breakfast

JLA+ Stream: Build Back Better

More Details

Agent Recommendation

As Creative Director of one the most successful ad agencies in the world, Rory wouldn't be out of place in a modern day version of Mad Men. You'll warm to him straight away. He overturns your assumptions, lets you in on branding secrets, and shows how human behaviour isn’t always logical – wrapping it all up with an easy humour and bundles of charm. You’ll come away buzzing with insights and ideas, and a knowing smile.

JLA Agent Christopher Morrell
Read More

Book

Book written by Rory Sutherland

Contact us about Rory Sutherland

We’re on hand to help you find the perfect speaker, presenter or performer for your events. Call or email our London office and use our agents' experience to expertly match you with the right person for your programme!


From time to time we send out emails announcing new speakers and free tickets to our showcase events including Speakers Breakfasts and the JLA Real Variety Show. Please tick the box below if you would like to receive these emails.

Don't miss anything!

We will never share the data you submit here with a third party. Information is stored in a database in order to service your enquiry, but is deleted once it is no longer required. You may request to have this data removed at any time.

JLA Presents

Click to view details of our event
Event - - Date TBC

Speakers Breakfast

Racing to High Performance with Guenther Steiner and Paul McKenna

Speakers
Paul McKenna and Guenther Steiner

Date TBC.  We will be looking at high-performance and mindset with our two excellent speakers.

Location

Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4QH

WATCH
Risk Speakers Breakfast event image.
Event - 17/09/2024 - 09:00

Speakers Breakfast

Navigating Risk and Chaos – Strategies For Coping With An Uncertain World.

Speakers
Clive Myrie, Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, Rt Hon Lord Parker of Minsmere, and Robin Niblett

On Tuesday 17th September we had the pleasure of hearing from a remarkable panel of keynote speakers, who shared their expertise on the challenges of managing Risk in a chaotic world.

Location

87 Barts Close, 87 Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7EB

WATCH