John Boyd
Length of PR career (so far): 32 years
Your most memorable campaign: New Zealand’s first challenge for the America’s Cup back in 1987. And 9/11. The company I was Managing Director of at the time represented United Airlines in NZ. More recently, Mazda’s WOW My Town campaign which won us Silver in the 2019 Bulldog Awards.
Most poignant professional moment: Taking a punt to start my own business when we had a young family and mortgage and realising after all the highs and lows that it was going to work.
Biggest complaint about social media: The negative impact it can have on a brand and the reliance some companies have on influencers who have no real connection to a brand.
Best thing about working at your agency: The team and the clients, we work hard but also take time to relax and have some fun and we are not PC.
Last time you didn’t do any work all weekend: A few weeks ago, when I was on holiday in the U.S.—Las Vegas, then the Pacific Highway from San Francisco to LA.
Boyd Public Relations Team, Auckland, NZ
Most misunderstood thing about PR: It is not a dark art. It is about storytelling and using different methods to tell these stories. It also makes a real difference to brands and individuals.
What got you interested in a PR career? I love Formula 1 racing and always thought doing PR for a team would be my ideal job—but first I had to figure out what PR was.
Most interesting thing about your job: The variety—no two days are the same.
Your nightmare client in 3 words: Unrealistic expectations and budget (sorry, that’s four!)
Best advice to a PR student: Have a thick skin, be prepared to put in the hard yards and soak up as much information as you can.
Favourite way to de-stress: Cycling/running or a glass of wine.
The moment you realized PR is more fun than you thought it would be: When Mazda took me to an F1 race in Melbourne.
Favourite non-work hobby: Travel and catching up with friends and family.
Cocktail of choice: Bloody Mary.
Favourite movie this year: The Darkest Hour.
Your first “real” job: Clerk in an insurance office – I only lasted a year before I went back to school.
Three people you’d love to invite to dinner: Winston Churchill, Bruce McLaren and my father who died when I was very young.
Your next big adventure: F1 Grand Prix in Singapore in September.
Your ideal Saturday: Early morning bike ride or walk along Mission Bay beach with my wife Jane and our dog Phoebe, followed by catching up with friends.
