Drugi jezik na kojem je dostupan ovaj članak: Bosnian
By: Adnan Arnautlija
Eka Ruola is CEO and ECD of hasan & partners Group and is one of the most awarded creative directors in Finland, both on the national and international level. His work has been awarded at all the major award shows, including Cannes Lions, Eurobest, Clio Awards…
Not only that, over the last two years Eka and his team have brought home two Grand Prix’s from the Golden Drum and multiple Golds.
This year, Eka is returning to Golden Drum as a speaker, and will share how a war movie, Unknown Soldier, revolutionized branded content in Finland.
Media Marketing: Every market has its specific traits and quirks. What are the small details that have the greatest influence on defining the ad industry in Finland?
Eka Ruola: As a country we have a very strong engineering background. This has led to a culture where we are really good at creating the best possible product in the world – and also very good at turning it into the best kept secret in the world. Marketing, marketing communication and creative storytelling still needs to grow its significance in Finland. The new data driven world gives us a great opportunity to prove these fantastic engineers how creativity can mean business.
Media Marketing: You are a well-known figure for the Golden Drum audience. Last two years you took home two Grand Prix and multiple other awards from this festival. But how well are you informed about the industry of the Adriatic region, and how would you compare it with the ad industry in Finland?
Eka Ruola: I’ve naturally seen a lot of work coming from the region and I’m quite pleased with the quality and distinctiveness of the body of work. There are universal ideas with a cultural twist and sometimes even brilliant executions. I think your region has taken a faster and longer jump on the creative map than the industry in Finland. Having said that, I’m really proud of the recent development in my country and especially with the fact that the efficiency and ROI type of a thinking seems to be much stronger in Finland than in other markets.
Media Marketing: You hold two prominent roles in the hasan&partners Group. CEO and ECD. How do you balance these two roles? Do they leave at least some free time for you?
Eka Ruola: There’s no such thing as free time – a creative storyteller is a 24/7 occupation. The Group CEO part to me relatively easy since I have fantastic managing directors in the group units running their businesses plus a great Chairman and CFO. My job is to support the units when needed and then focus quite a lot on integration, client work, new business, new opportunities and naturally, the creative product.
Media Marketing: What are the main things you wish to focus your group on going forward? What will be the focus of hasan&partners Group strategy for the challenges to come?
Eka Ruola: Number one is to focus on how we can bring more efficiency to our clients. We can succeed when our clients succeed. Number two is to fully understand where the world is going and how we are equipped to not only keep up with the change but to be able to lead it as well. I consider myself as an exponential thinker and I want to spread that around. This is a fantastic time to be alive and kicking in this industry – there’s nothing to be afraid of.
Media Marketing: What fuels your inspiration?
Eka Ruola: All things art and truly passionate people.
Media Marketing: Any message you would like to send to Golden Drum delegates this year?
Eka Ruola: Embrace the change.