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Though still in his first year with Havas Host, Sebastian Vizor is far from green. He served as executive creative director for over three years at The Royals and is a seasoned creative with over two decades in the advertising industry.
Beginning with a childhood passion for creativity, Sebastian’s creative journey is paved by a wealth of exciting work, each fine-tuning his method.
Speaking to LBB, Sebastian reflects on his experiences at leading agencies like Sid Lee and 72andSunny, and how they shaped his culturally attuned approach to work.
He also dissects his motivations for joining Havas Host, where he aims to harness the agency’s potential with unconventional thinking. He also offers his perspective on the trends in creativity and the importance of simplicity in modern advertising campaigns.
LBB> Have you always been a creative person, even as a child?
Sebastian> Yep, I grew up with a very creative grandmother, so I always made things from a young age. Then, I won a national creative writing competition for Royal Mail at the age of eight, and ever since then, I have been passionate about all things design and advertising.
LBB> You’ve had an extensive career spanning over two decades in the industry. How have your experiences at agencies like Sid Lee, B Reel, and 72andSunny shaped your approach to creativity?
Sebastian> I’ve been fortunate to work with great people at outstanding agencies. The agencies mentioned intersect with culture, which demands a different approach and leads to more rounded work. It’s about entering our consumer worlds with work they’ll gladly accept. Working on brands at a global level also helps sharpen your thinking, as it needs to be adaptable to various audiences, occasions and budgets.
LBB> You are known for creating culturally influential brands. Can you share an example of a campaign that you believe made a significant cultural impact and what elements contributed to its success?
Sebastian> The one I hold close to my heart is helping WWF create ‘Our Planet’—an ad about reducing humanity’s impact, packaged as a nature documentary. This initiative then spun off to help educate millions of schoolchildren and Scout groups worldwide about how they could be part of saving the planet. The elements that contributed to its success included leveraging the right people to bring it to life, such as Netflix, Silverback Films, and David Attenborough.
LBB> What motivated you to join Havas Host, and how do you see your role evolving as you lead the agency into a new era?
Sebastian> I’ve always sought places that do things differently, and Havas Host delivers that. It has global backing, but the agency has maintained its independent spirit. I believe the best agencies are those where the people steering it are truly aligned. So when I met with Gayle (While) and Olly (Taylor), I was excited to find that shared passion for creating work that people can’t help but notice.
LBB> What are the trends in the region you’re expecting to see take off in the next year?
Sebastian> It’s not region-specific, but I’m seeing a trend toward the art of simplicity in the work. This is very exciting for creativity, as there’s nowhere to hide. It involves distilling executions to their core, creating a more straightforward, single-minded approach that is hard to ignore.
LBB> How would you describe your leadership style, and how do you inspire and motivate your creative team?
Sebastian> Leadership has to be tailored to each individual. You need to understand how each team member responds best and be agile enough to adapt to their different needs. As a leader, I’m there to support and protect the team, guiding them on the journey and providing direction to help strengthen their ideas. Whenever possible, I try to give feedback on all ideas shared so the team understands why an idea might not be correct and has the opportunity to refine or resubmit any ideas they believe in.
LBB> What are some of the biggest creative challenges you’ve faced in your career, and how did you overcome them?
Sebastian> As a creative, regardless of your level, the biggest challenge is getting others to believe in an idea as much as you do. Here, tenacity is key. No one cares about an idea more than you, so never take no for an answer. Instead, use it to navigate your way to making it happen.
LBB> What are your goals for Havas Host in the next few years, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Sebastian> Havas Host is a very exciting place with abundant potential opportunities. Hence, a significant goal is to help realise these opportunities by applying some unusual thinking to help them excel in the real world.
LBB> If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be and why?
Sebastian> I love pitches because they are a calculated sprint to develop solutions for real problems. However, I believe these potential clients would benefit more from a project with a selected agency to see how the partnership could work. Pitches often occur in a vacuum, so the work may never be its best. Therefore, I’d advocate for eliminating the pitch process as it currently stands.
LBB> What advice would you give to aspiring creative directors who are looking to make a significant impact in the advertising industry?
Sebastian> Trust talented people to do talented things. Give your team the space to pursue their ideas while providing the support to realise them. Be gentle with people but tough on the work.
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