Jeremy Galbraith, a seasoned professional with three decades of experience, has established himself as a trusted advisor to leading companies, organizations, governments, and key figures in both business and politics. With a focus on strategic communication and adept crisis management, Jeremy has navigated diverse industry sectors, working with almost every type of stakeholder.
Formerly CEO of Burson-Marsteller Brussels, Jeremy’s influential roles have extended to the highest levels of leadership, including serving as CEO of Burson-Marsteller EMEA, where he led a team of over 700 employees across 35 offices. Jeremy co-founded BOLDT in 2017, a senior-led consultancy focused on delivering business strategy, communications and stakeholder engagement to transform organizations and performance.
Jeremy’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. In 2012, he received a prestigious SABRE Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement from PRovoke, a leading global communications publication. His impact on the industry was further underscored in 2014 when The Sunday Times and Debrett’s listed him among the UK’s 500 most influential people. European CEO magazine crowned Jeremy Entrepreneur of the Year in the European PR industry in 2020, recognizing his ongoing contributions to the field.
Balancing Passion
Jeremy expresses his passion for the work he does, particularly in politics and with BOLDT, where he is dedicated to helping companies and individuals communicate effectively. However, he emphasizes that his passion extends beyond the workplace to include his family, dogs, and support for West Ham United. In his free time, Jeremy enjoys activities like walking and skiing, and he has a love for good food and wine.
From Politics to PR
After completing his law studies at university, Jeremy entered the land of politics by working for a Member of Parliament and then a lobbying company in Westminster, an ideal stepping stone. He took a shot at a parliamentary seat in 1992, but faced little chance of success and did not win. By the next general election, Jeremy had been headhunted by Burson-Marsteller, and with his party in a challenging position, he decided to abandon his political aspirations.
During his time at Burson-Marsteller, Jeremy expanded his understanding of broader strategic communications. Recognizing that influencing the political process required more than just meeting politicians, he learned to utilize advertising, media, social media, events, and research evidence—a comprehensive political campaign model.
As his career progressed at Burson-Marsteller, Jeremy moved beyond pure political engagement into crisis communication. He worked on diverse issues, from supporting the Egyptian government after the MetroJet terrorist attack to advising Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s global campaign for freedom and assisting the International Cycling Union with the Lance Armstrong affair. Jeremy also collaborated with major companies and CEOs, emphasizing the importance of reputation and the strategic use of communications to transform businesses. This passion ultimately led him to co-found BOLDT in 2017, which has recently been acquired by the American consultancy Bully Pulpit International (BPI).
Leadership Evolution
Continuing to evolve as an influential leader, Jeremy emphasizes the importance of honesty and authenticity. He believes that the way you communicate significantly influences how people perceive you, and it’s crucial to be proactive and honest, whether you’re a company, CEO, President, or Prime Minister. When dealing with decision-makers, he underlines the importance of complete transparency about clients.
According to Jeremy, leaders should exhibit boldness, vision, the ability to challenge concepts, and demonstrate creativity. These qualities, he notes, are sometimes lacking among emerging leaders. While caution can be beneficial, a wishy-washy approach that merely follows public opinion does not demonstrate leadership. Once again, he underscores the essential values of honesty and authenticity in effective leadership.
Guiding Principles
Jeremy aims to exemplify boldness, vision, and creativity—traits he attributes to his success. Equally crucial, in his view, is the willingness to say ‘no’ to a client when necessary. If he believes a client is wrong, he advocates for expressing that. While avoiding short-term disagreement might seem appealing, Jeremy contends that it is honesty and straightforwardness that build long-term trusting relationships. Clients, he observes, appreciate candid communication over sycophantic agreement.
After spending many years running a market and later overseeing a regional operation (EMEA) in a large agency, Jeremy finds satisfaction at BOLDT where he can place a greater focus on clients. While still overseeing the business, his primary role as Managing Partner involves serving existing clients and contributing to bringing in new ones. Jeremy notes that the happiest part of his daily routine is when he’s walking his three dogs. During this time, he appreciates having the space to think and plan.
Balancing Acts
Jeremy believes that organizations depend on both individual heroics and team processes. A successful business relies on an effective team with a mix of talents to address various crucial aspects. Questions such as how reputation is managed, how clients are served and acquired, and how knowledge and skills within the consultancy are developed, all require a collaborative team effort.
However, Jeremy emphasizes that individual heroics are equally essential. These moments involve inspiration, sparks of creativity, and extraordinary individual efforts or contributions. These instances can be pivotal in getting a project across the finish line or helping clients achieve success. So, while teamwork is vital, individual brilliance plays a significant role in driving projects forward and achieving exceptional outcomes.
Beyond Degrees
Jeremy doesn’t prioritize academic qualifications when evaluating individuals. Instead, he seeks people who are bold, possess creative ideas, and excel in communication—individuals who can effectively tell a story and make it resonate.
In the consultancy realm, a diverse set of skills is crucial. Jeremy recognizes the need for individuals who can work with clients as well as those who can manage the business side of things. Finding individuals who excel in both areas is rare, but Jeremy considers the ability to genuinely serve clients—listening to them, challenging them, and providing sound advice—as the most important skill in the consultancy world.
Evolution of Consultancy
The consultancy world, much like the broader world, has undergone significant changes over the past three or four decades. Communication has become faster, attention spans shorter, and more people have access to information and the opportunity to voice their opinions. When Jeremy began his career, email didn’t even exist, and communication involved photocopying and faxing documents. The advent of digital technology has brought about transformative changes, generally for the better.
Digital technology has made a wealth of information and research available at the touch of a button, enabling targeted communication with audiences in unprecedented ways. While it allows for quicker reactions, it also demands constant readiness and swift responses. The downside is that there is minimal downtime, and there are only small windows of opportunity to correct mistakes or address problems before they escalate. This fast-paced environment means less time for thoughtful consideration and decision-making.
BOLDT’s Bold Venture
The greatest risk in Jeremy’s career was co-founding his own company, BOLDT. In hindsight, he believes he should have initiated it a decade earlier. Since its establishment in 2017, BOLDT has provided bold, creative, visionary, and honest services to clients, a commitment that remains steadfast. Jeremy envisions that the company will be recognized for its ability to adapt to a rapidly changing world, offering clients the experience and strategic advice needed to navigate through political, social, and economic uncertainty.
Looking ahead, Jeremy sees himself still leading BOLDT in five years. The recent acquisition of BOLDT by BPI promises exciting times, representing a good fit for both companies. This collaboration will enable them to invest in accelerating further growth. The integration process revealed close alignment in client work, capabilities, and culture, fostering a sense that the two firms are already operating as one. Jeremy anticipates that joining forces comes at an opportune time, given the political landscape and the transformative pressures faced by businesses in Europe and the US.
Advice for Emerging Leaders in Consultancy Business
Jeremy emphasizes that a key aspect many leaders overlook is the importance of listening, considering it the most crucial communication skill. He underscores the significance of listening to clients and paying attention to what others are saying, as this forms the foundation for providing valuable advice. As a leader, he believes it’s essential to focus on people.
Jeremy contrasts this approach with the big holding companies, such as WPP, which took over Burson-Marsteller. According to him, these companies tend to prioritize the value of business over people. He argues that building a consultancy business necessitates a connection to people that goes beyond algorithms and emphasizes the human element in the business.
