Page 44 - AdNews Magazine Jan-Feb 2021

Meet the Team
SIMON RYAN:
The rise of the independent was never more prevalent than in 2020. As Australia’s borders remained closed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, locally owned agencies spun into the spotlight, proving to be agile and able to maintain the speed required to keep up with the ever-changing climate that has become the new normal.
While some may think it risque to start a new business in the middle of all of this, Simon Ryan saw an opportunity to offer local clients a one-stop shop that is wholly Australian owned. The former CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network Australia and New Zealand (now Dentsu) and managing director of commercial at Carsales launched RyanCap in the middle of last year.
THE NEW GLOBAL
IS LOCAL
Six months in and the parent company has around 30 staff and more than 20 clients across its two businesses, Ryvalmedia and Foxcatcher, in Melbourne. Aiding in its growth was the acquisition of indie digital media shop JBZ Digital.
Ryan tells AdNews that much of the parent company’s quick success boils down to its local ownership and starting ahead of the curve, unlike its more traditional counterparts which are busy undergoing their own transformation.
“If you look at where the big parent companies are at, they’re busy trying to transform their own businesses and are quite inwardly focused,” says Ryan. “We will start from where they want to end up, and I think where they will end up being, in their own sphere, is still scaled in some way or form to look after global clients. But I think local clients in Australia and brands that have autonomy to make local decisions will gravitate more towards
independent owned businesses.
“The new global is local and clients are focusing on Australian agencies
and/or Australian parent companies that can offer the solution in one shop. “What I’m doing is taking the best of what I can see from a capability sense and bringing that together under an Australian umbrella. I don’t need overseas
Former Dentsu and Carsales boss Simon Ryan marked his return to adland last year with his new venture, RyanCap. AdNews spoke to Ryan and the team to discuss where the business is at today, what’s on the agenda for 2021, and why being Australian owned is advantageous.
WORDS BY
PAIGE MURPHY