Leadership Lessons with Anthony Hamelle, Chief Innovation Officer at TBWA\Chiat\Day

Camille Chevalier, Senior Consultant at Hanson Search, sat down with Anthony Hamelle, Chief Innovation Officer at TBWA\Chiat\Day, to discuss the evolving role of leadership in brand and communications. With over 20 years of experience in innovation, advertising and technology, Anthony reflects on his own journey into communications, the lessons that have shaped his leadership style and how the industry is adapting to a future defined by AI and digital transformation.

How did you get into communications and what initially drew you to this field?

I “fell into” communications. Alongside my law studies, I was always drawn to communications electives and minors. A summer job in market and opinion research turned into a part-time role, providing me with my first real exposure, followed by an internship in the M&A department of a law firm, which I really enjoyed. The analytical and structured thinking I had developed through law became very useful, however what excited me was the breadth of communications, ranging from public affairs and PR to advertising, design and publishing.

How would you describe your leadership style, and how has it evolved over time?

I’ve never liked being micro-managed, so I give others space. At the start of my career I delegated, but I learned that delegation alone isn’t enough, you need to help people thrive. My style has evolved to be more educational, focusing on guiding thought processes and building change management and upskilling programmes. At the same time, I believe management at its core is about attention, recognising and rewarding effort. Focused attention is one of the most powerful things a leader can give their team.

What is the best leadership advice you’ve received—or one lesson you wish you had learned earlier?

Listen and ask questions. Observation has always been part of my learning style, but truly listening, without immediately thinking about what to say next, took me longer to master. Early in my career, I was interviewing a leading French Senator on real estate policy. We spoke for 90 minutes instead of 15 minutes, and at the end he asked for the transcript, because he had expressed ideas in a way he had never done before. That taught me the power of listening. More recently, moving into broader leadership roles, a coach reminded me of this same lesson: listen more and ask better questions.

How is Omnicom adapting to the evolving expectations of clients in today’s digital, integrated landscape?

When I began, communications felt linear: siloed experts working side by side. Today, the marketing funnel has collapsed with millions of influencers, fragmented communities and viral content driven by algorithms. Omnicom has responded by breaking down silos and integrating expertise more closely. Many of our clients, including Nissan and Apple, are serviced by fully integrated Omnicom teams led by TBWA. Shared platforms like Omni for data and media, Flywheel for commerce and OmniAI, help us collaborate seamlessly and deliver more connected solutions.

How do you see the brand and communications sector evolving over the next 5–10 years?

AI will be the foundation. Much of the “making” will be driven by AI, with human expertise shifting towards strategy, foresight and curation. Teams will be leaner and more agile, with value coming from the ability to orchestrate technology rather than execute technical tasks. This will change not only how agencies operate but also what clients value most in their partners.

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to lead in the communications industry?

Think in terms of breadth and depth. Build vertical expertise in one or two areas, but stay curious and explore adjacent skills. The communications landscape is dynamic, and leaders need to understand how different disciplines and technologies fit together. The ability to connect dots across domains is what sets great leaders apart.

Whether you’re hiring top Public Affairs or Communications talent, or considering your next career move, our team would be delighted to support you.

Camille Chevallier leads the Marketing & Communications European practice, covering Corporate Communications, Consumer PR, Financial Communications, Digital, Branding, Advertising and Crisis Communications.

Hanson Search is a globally recognised, award-winning talent advisory and headhunting consultancy. Our expertise lies in building successful ventures worldwide through our recruitment, interim and executive search in communications, sustainability, public affairs and policy, digital marketing and sales.