Chris Savage is one of Asia Pacific’s leading public relations and communications industry leaders. His passion, though, is about learning, growing and continually working to be the best he can be at what he does and what he can do next. More than that, it is about helping others achieve their full potential.

Following a highly successful 25 year career in public relations, Chris was appointed Chief Operating Officer of STW Group in 2008. STW is the largest listed marketing content and communication companies in the southern hemisphere, with more than 70 advertising, media buying, digital marketing, public relations, research, training, sports sponsorship, direct marketing and experiential agencies in its stable. Chris is either Board chairman or on the Boards of most of these companies.

Educated in South Africa, England and Australia, Chris started his career in 1984 as a junior consultant in the Adelaide office of global PR industry leader Burson-Marsteller. Ten years later after a posting to Hong Kong and then a return to Sydney, Chris was appointed CEO of B-Ms Australian business, covering five offices and more than 120 employees. He then took on regional responsibilities, and retired from his B-M career in early 1999 as Vice Chairman of the Asia Pacific region, with more than 800 employees and 21 offices.

In 2000 he launched his own financial PR firm with partner Jennifer Horrigan, and with Ogilvy PR/STW as small founding shareholder. Savage & Horrigan quickly grew to be a market leader, and by 2007 the firm was fully acquired by Ogilvy and STW. Concurrently, Chris founded Ogilvy PR, of which Savage & Horrigan was a member. Under his leadership, Ogilvy PR grew to become the largest and most profitable PR group in Australia, and maintains that leadership position today.

When he decided to retire from his Ogilvy PR career in mid 2008, Ogilvy shareholder STW asked him to join its leadership team as Chief Operating Officer.

Why Wrestling Possums?

A possum climbed through my window late one night. It saw a naked me and was petrified (fair enough). I chased it around the room, finally pouncing on it with a towel. It was immediately still. I let it loose outside. It shot away and was gone. Each of us are similar. Adventurous yet easily frightened. Occasionally compliant but normally happiest left alone and to do it their way. Plus “possum” is the affectionate Australian vernacular for someone we care for, made famous by Dame Edna Everage. To grow relationships, businesses, potential and effectiveness, we have to wrestle, possums!