Kevin Chesters Keynote Speaker

Co-Author of 'The Creative Nudge: Simple Steps to Help You Think Differently'
Acclaimed Marketing Strategist - visiting lecturer at the University of Creative Arts and Edinburgh Napier University.
Vastly experienced Strategy Head at W+K, Dentsu and Ogilvy

Kevin Chesters's Biography

Kevin (Kev) Chesters is an inspirational strategist and keynote speaker. He is known for his engaging style, expertise and insights.

He is the co-author of bestselling ‘The Creative Nudge: Simple Steps to Help You Think Differently'(2021). He believes that creative thinking is something everyone can do. It’s a way of looking at the world afresh, doing new things in new ways, taking risks. With The Creative Nudge, he illustrates how ‘nudge theory’ can help unleash one’s innate originality. This is a proven behavioural science that reveals how small actions can have big impacts on our thinking, nudge theory powers this book. Using simple behaviour changes, retrain your brain and live a more creative and rewarding life.

Kev was a cofounder and Strategy Partner at Harbour Collective, an independent communications firm. Before establishing Harbour, Kevin led strategy at British Telecom, Saatchi & Saatchi, Wieden+Kennedy and dentsumcgarrybowen – his immediate role before Harbour was as Chief Strategy Officer at Ogilvy. He now works as an independent consultant, speaker and adviser.

He is a member of the Account Planning Committee & a regular contributor to industry titles The Drum, Management Today and Campaign and he writes a blog for The Marketing Society. He has also been a judge on prestigious industry awards from the Effies to the APG Strategy Awards.

Kevin is a visiting lecturer at University of Creative Arts and at Edinburgh Napier University and has given many keynote speeches, including two TED talks. He has also led workshops and seminars for clients including Google. Lego, Three.co.uk, BBC, Diageo, BT, The Gym Group, John Lewis, Walpole and Marks & Spencer.

Creativity: How to unleash more innovative thinking in your organisation

“You can bring creativity to any field you are in. Even a big muddy field” - the key to all progress is doing things in new ways. Based on the author’s best-selling book ‘The Creative Nudge’ this will teach you and your team all the little ‘nudges’ needed to make yourself, your business and your life more innovative.

How to Create Time for Creativity in a Fast World

The world is getting faster. We are all being asked to do more in less time, with more things cramming into our days. Now we can't bend time or create more time, but maybe we can - with help - reframe our relationship with it! It starts here.

What Businesses and Brands can Learn from Studying Gangs

Gangs are incredibly successful historical entities - for good and for bad. From the Women's Institute to the Hells Angels, from the Brownies to the Moonies. What are the ten lessons that businesses & brands can learn from studying their structures and behaviours?

The science of Storytelling

Storytelling is the thing that got humans to the top of the food chain, and kept us there. It is the thing that will get your organisation to the top of the commercial food chain too. Understand the why, what and how of how to create and tell your story.

He brings rare strategic authority from leading some of the world’s most influential agencies and brands, including Ogilvy, Wieden+Kennedy, Saatchi & Saatchi and BT.
He helps leaders unlock practical creativity using behavioural science, translating the principles behind his bestselling book The Creative Nudge into simple actions that change how people think and work.
He equips organisations to solve complex problems and spot new opportunities, drawing on decades of experience shaping strategy across marketing, communications and innovation.
He engages audiences with energy and credibility, combining TED-level storytelling with hands-on workshops for clients including Google, LEGO and the BBC.
He brings a sharp industry vantage point as a published commentator, awards judge and visiting lecturer, helping teams apply creative thinking with rigour and impact.

Videos of Kevin Chesters

Crafting stories that drive behaviour change

TEDxCardiff - Kevin Chesters - Avoiding single acts of carelessness

APG Asks the Strategy Leaders….Why choose planning as a career? with Kev Chesters

Articles, Media & Podcasts

The ‘nudges’ we all need to overcome fears and free our creative side

Rest Less

Articles in The Drum

Articles from the Marketing Society

Everyone Can Be Creative – They Just Need a Nudge

Little Black Book

5 Minutes with… Kev Chesters

Little Black Book

Podcast - How to be More Creative

Uncensored CMO

Books by Kevin Chesters

The Creative Nudge: Simple Steps to Help You Think Differently

Comments & Testimonials

"Kev ran an incredibly inspirational session for M&S, and the feedback has been universally and overwhelmingly positive. I'd highly recommend him for training, speaking, and, well, pretty much everything really"

Robbie Black Head of Brand & Communications, M&S Food

“Kevin is unfailingly insightful, original and entertaining. One of those rare speakers you could listen to for an hour without once having the urge to check your phone.”

Rory Sutherland Author of "Alchemy"

“Kev is a great person to get in for learning in your organisation. His fast-paced style and tailored content is a must”

Clare Philips EMEA Marketing Head, Google/YouTube

“Kev is the perfect combination of entertainment and insight. This is the reason we have had him back year after year for a keynote at our annual conference. He is always a real highlight"

Helen Brocklebank CEO Walpole

"Kev has a style of teaching you stuff that leaves you feeling like you’ve just had a great chat over a drink with a friend…but then you look around and realise that valuable intel has mysteriously crept into your brain from somewhere”

Jason Chebib Chair of Marketing Society, USA