Ellis Watson

Ellis’s journey began at The Sun, where he quickly rose through the ranks to become the Marketing Director, instrumental in boosting the newspaper’s circulation to record levels. From there, he took on the role of Managing Director at Celador International, the company behind the global hit TV show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? which he took to over a hundred countries.

Ellis then took on the challenge of leading the distribution and logistics company John Menzies before joining the board of FirstGroup. There, he turned around iconic transport brands like Greyhound across the Americas, addressing issues of low morale, poor service, and negative public perception across a vast network.

As the global CEO of Simon Cowell’s Syco Corporation, Ellis achieved international success with record labels and TV formats, including The X Factor and Got Talent series. At the Scottish media group DC Thomson, he transformed the world’s largest family-owned media company into a future-proofed organisation by revamping its business models, brands, and commercial direction. He subsequently served as Chief Business Advisor to the First Minister of Scotland, influencing the government’s private sector strategy.

In both business and speaking engagements, Ellis brings original insight, enthusiasm, frankness, and humor. He challenges and motivates with a candor that is rare among senior leaders. He advocates for leveraging external shocks and disruptions as opportunities for positive change, demonstrating how to inspire passion under pressure and transition from mission statements to authentic company culture. He emphasises the importance of quality, integrity, and maximising the potential of a diversified workforce as Gen Z gives way to Gen Alpha.

In his presentations, Ellis encourages a shift from being busy to being productive, advocating for taking control of one’s impact. As one of the few individuals invited to deliver multiple TED Talks, Ellis is renowned for his insightful views on leading through disruption, fostering a change-oriented culture, and navigating the complexities of governance and talent management. He is celebrated as one of the most inspiring, intelligent, and entertaining speakers in the field.

To book Keynote Speaker Ellis Watson, contact The Speakers Agency on +44(0)1332 810481 or email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com