Hello, I’m Derek Robson
Chief Executive Officer
I lead IDEO's business globally. This means I help to set the vision and direction, nurture the talent, and lead our teams to produce world-class work with our clients that tackles the most important business and societal challenges. I begin each day with curiosity and knowing that leading is about looking after people. Collectively with others, I will continue to address the constantly-evolving questions of where next for design and for IDEO, and work towards making a positive change, at scale. In the process, I expect we will also have some fun because at IDEO, we're passionate about what we do, and if we're not having fun then it will be just a job, and if it's just a job then it's just not IDEO.
What you won't learn from my bio:
I love sweet things, like cakes and cookies, so much so that I started a cake club at my two former companies, and I own four cats, even though I am allergic to them.
Joined IDEO:
2023
Full Bio
Derek started his career at Ogilvy & Mather Direct in London. He moved to Ogilvy & Mather and then to Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH), where he spent the next 13 years of his career in a range of roles including as its Managing Director. Under his leadership, BBH twice won Campaign magazine’s Agency of the Year award. In 2004, Derek was voted one of the 40 most influential men under 40 by Esquire magazine in the UK.
Derek joined Goodby Silverstein & Partners (GS&P) in 2006 as a Managing Partner and was named President in 2017. He was responsible for GS&P’s strategic and production functions, commercial and financial operations.
During his tenure, he worked with key clients, brought to market successful new service offerings and led many of the agency’s new business wins. Under his direction and stewardship, the agency has become an industry front-runner in narrowing the gender gap in leadership and won multiple awards from Adweek, Ad Age, Cannes and Fast Company. To address the diversity talent gap and acting on the belief that all creatives have an equal chance at becoming professional advertising creatives, Derek helped to found an in-house, tuition-free advertising training school.
Derek is married with two daughters. When he’s not working, he spends his time supporting Derby County Football Club, watching the English cricket team from afar, and running long distances very, very slowly.