We are delighted to bring you a Fellows Interview with Simon Watson, Operations Director, Republic of Media
The Marketing Society Fellowship is our highest and most prestigious accolade awarded to outstanding marketing leaders who have achieved significant success in the markets they’ve worked in and made an active contribution to The Marketing Society and our industry more broadly.
What’s your golden rule?
Lead with your strengths, work on your weaknesses.
Who has been your biggest influence?
My parents.
What is your most hated business expression?
Nice to e-meet you
What’s the smartest business idea you’ve ever had?
Being early in the movement and helping move our business away from manual reporting - our data viz experts are wizards!
Which leader do you admire most and why?
Zoe Scaman. Her keynotes are inspirational and her insight on emerging technologies, fandom and cultural shifts are fascinating. She's a proud, vocal and passionate advocate of societal issues she believes in.
What is on your mind the most right now as a marketing leader?
Getting to grips with AI, how we best utilise it and keeping up with the rapid change. Big players are moving and adapting so quickly and without warning - smaller players who invest and build today could easily see their efforts out of date tomorrow.
Why is being part of The Marketing Society important for your career?
The Marketing Society showcases the amazing work its members create among its close-knit community. As an advocate of agencies outside of London and working for a progressive agency with offices in Edinburgh and Manchester, having work communicated and recognised by an established network on a global scale means a great deal. I also work with, and have worked with, brilliant people and The Marketing Society helps maintain those connections and establish new ones.
Why does marketing matter to you?
Friends find it wild I have an ad-funded Spotify account, but I genuinely like ads and always have. I love the emotion, comedy and story-telling that brand ads can bring, and how well-executed performance activity introduces me to new things and helps me find an answer or make a purchase more quickly.
What do you think the biggest challenge in marketing will be in 2026
Erosion of consumer trust due to AI drivel on social media.
Tell us something that’s not on your CV
Interests: post-romcom Matthew McConaughey
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