Kevin Roberts

Posted by John Meadowcroft
Kevin is the past CEO of major international advertising agency Satchi & Satchi, a position he held for 17 years, and is well known in New Zealand for his passion support of  New Zealand business and sport. Kevin was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order (CNZM) of Merit in 2013 for his services to business and community.
 
Kevin, last spoke to us in 2013  where he first met Nadia Lim and has latter become Chairman of the very successful start-up company, My Food Bag in association with Nadia, Theresa Gatting and Cecilia Robinson.
 
In a wide ranging presentation ,Kevin provided his view into what he believes are New Zealand’s competitive advantages in business and sport on the world stage and the attributes that great leaders have in creating great companies and sports teams. Overall he feels that, in a currently very volatile world, New Zealand’s is well equipped given our current political and economic stability to move forward in the western world.
 
Some of the many key points Kevin made on leadership were:
  • Good companies are well managed by leaders prepared to always do the ‘right thing’.
  • Knowledge skills and attitude are important attributes of good leadership.
  • Positivity develops great skills
  • Good leaders inspire everyone to succeed.
  • Leaders are optimists not realists
  • Fail fast, think fast, fix fast.
  • ABC of leadership : Ambition, Belief and Courage
The key elements of great leadership were described as someone who has high levels of:
  • EQ : Emotional Quotient. Intuition and empathy
  • TQ: tech running you or do you run it?
  • BQ: Bloody Quick. Speed is everything
  • CQ: Creativity Quotient. Ability to think outside the square.
As former director of the NZRFU, Kevin also shared his thoughts on the current Lions tour and the impact that great leaders have had on the AB’s performance.
 
Kevin also kindly donated a unique ‘one off ‘ signed 2017 All Black jersey which was auctioned at the meeting with the proceeds benefiting the Charitable Trust to the tune of $1,000.
 
One very important point that Kevin also made was that he had never been invited to become a Rotarian – we need to be better at asking!
 
Kevin was thanked in Alistair McFarlanes unique way . ( See the next story)