Chris Foster

Global CEO

Chris Foster is Global CEO of The Next Practice, leading growth strategy, communications, and innovation across global markets.

Chris Foster is a business and communications leader who has a record of driving sustainable growth across clients, agencies and global markets. As the ex-worldwide COO of Saatchi & Saatchi and the current Global CEO of The Next Practice, Chris is a widely recognized thought leader published by Newsweek, CBS News, The Straits Times and many other platforms. He is also a frequent guest of business news shows such as Bloomberg, CNBC, Mornings with Maria and others. He is a keynote speaker on many topics including brand purpose, sustainable brands, creative leadership, the future of communications, marketing innovation and the intersection of data science & creativity. He is the host of the popular business podcast A Punch Above, a show dedicated to telling the stories of businesses & brands that are having an outsized impact in today’s world.Chris is also the founder of FosterEquity (FeQ) an early stage investment fund dedicated to three verticals 1. FinTech, 2. Blockchain Technology and 3. Social Purpose. Portfolio companies are located in Singapore, China, Australia, Canada and the USA. Common themes are purpose-led social commerce, innovative platform experiences, and sustainable practice.For 20 years Chris held senior leadership roles at global advertising companies at the cutting edge of creativity and media and is a multiple award-winner at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. Chris has been President of Y&R Asia, has held holding company roles at Publicis Groupe where he was President of Global Clients, leading collaboration across creative, digital, media and commerce. His roles at Saatchi & Saatchi included Global COO, CEO of AsiaPacific and Greater China, CEO of Fallon USA.

Articles by Chris Foster

10 Trends Shaping Marketing

10 Trends Shaping Marketing

Marketing never remains static; it evolves with the world. From the impact of global ad revenue trends to the merging of physical and digital experiences, here’s a look at ten macro trends shaping the global marketing landscape:

Creating Your Sustainability Handprint

Creating Your Sustainability Handprint

We believe companies have the power to do good and do well and are the new driving force to help individuals, society, and the planet thrive in perpetuity.

Creative Intelligence: When GenAI Meets Human Intuition

Creative Intelligence: When GenAI Meets Human Intuition

The rapid development of GenAI has expanded the horizon of possibilities. As businesses scramble to incorporate GenAI into their core strategies, there's an emergent need to synergize machine learning with human ingenuity.

From Market Chaos to Marketing Opportunities: Five Ways to Drive Growth in Volatility

From Market Chaos to Marketing Opportunities: Five Ways to Drive Growth in Volatility

Marketing isn’t broken. It’s just built for yesterday. In a time of tariff shocks, policy swings, and consumer whiplash, too many brands are still using marketing playbooks that weren’t designed for volatility. The question isn’t whether disruption will hit—it's whether your marketing engine is built to grow through it.

How Businesses Can Fast-Track Innovation to Help During a Crisis

How Businesses Can Fast-Track Innovation to Help During a Crisis

“Unrealistic” timelines can actually work. Here’s how the Next Practice tackles fast-tracking innovation.

Leveraging the Power of Purpose with Matchfire

Leveraging the Power of Purpose with Matchfire

The Next Practice has partnered with purpose-driven brand design and digital marketing agency, Matchfire, to launch a full-service brand purpose offering that helps corporate, nonprofit and startup clients inspire change through data analytics, consulting, marketing, digital, communications, gaming and media.

Next Content Labs Launches Under Chris Martin

Next Content Labs Launches Under Chris Martin

The Next Practice launched Next Content Labs to develop strategic, short-form content solutions and quick-turn videos for businesses, non-profits, healthcare systems and individuals to help clients across Next Practices Group stand out from the pack. Emmy award-winning producer, Chris Martin, will provide expert direction as Next Content Labs’ Founder and President.

Part 1: Centaur Work – Muse, Machine and the Future of Creativity

Part 1: Centaur Work – Muse, Machine and the Future of Creativity

Centaur work is the future of creativity - what I learned at Wharton Its no secret that marketers are under pressure everyday to do more with less. That won't happen with traditional org charts or bolt-on AI tools. What’s needed now is a new model for how teams think, create, and deliver: Centaur Work — human instinct + machine intelligence. This is how top brands will win the next era of marketing.

Part 2: Centaur Marketing – Reinventing Creativity for a Human + AI future

Part 2: Centaur Marketing – Reinventing Creativity for a Human + AI future

The future of marketing isn’t man vs. machine—it’s man with machine. In Part 2 of my series, I explore how marketers can thrive by pairing human insight with AI execution. This is where strategy, creativity, and technology converge to create real value. It’s time to move from automation to augmentation. From output to impact.

Unlocking the Power of GenAI and Zero-party Data for our Cookieless Future

Unlocking the Power of GenAI and Zero-party Data for our Cookieless Future

In the absence of third-party cookies, the synergy between ZPD and GenAI presents a formidable solution. Brands can harness this duo to foster personalized, trust-centric, and compliant consumer engagements.

What's Next in Marketing: Brand Generosity-The New Catalyst for Sustainability

Chris Foster, CEO of The Next Practice, introduces how Brand Generosity is reshaping the way businesses approach sustainability and growth by shifting their focus from what they can sell to what they can contribute.