Craig McCartney

“In my younger years I was always trying new things like acting or MC’ing. I wasn’t scared of having a stage to project from. When I joined Chief Nation, I was brought in to help launch their digital marketing; but with CWO being their main product, I also had to fully understand that offering. So as part of my tuition, I went to a few events to learn more about them and thought, ‘these are cool! I’d love to get involved if I can’. At the time, we were growing and taking on more events, and our co-founder, David Moore, asked if I’d be interested in hosting. I jumped at the chance and haven’t looked back since. What’s not to like? Fine wine tasting, dining at the finest venues around the world, networking with C-suite executives, and helping to facilitate new business relationships between the biggest technology companies and the world’s leading organisations.”

“I’d like to think so. South Africans are not short on confidence, and for the most part are also friendly people who wear their hearts on their sleeves. This means we can build rapport quickly and connect with people easily. It’s definitely helped me in the world of business. Although I recently did a DNA test and I’m sad to admit that I have 0% DNA from Africa! But I was born there, still have the accent (just) and have a tattoo to confirm that fact, so I have that going for me.”

“I wouldn’t quite say guru! I’m more of a storytelling fan. I started as a copywriter and was always interested in how cleverly crafted copy can make an impact. The story is so important, and how you craft it is even more so. At CWO I always enjoyed hearing David, our co-founder, pitch the company’s story. It’s one I’ve now shared a thousand times and when the whole idea clicks into place, a smile always appears on the face of your listener. Words matter, and you have to analyse every sentence and to make sure they deliver value. It’s a challenge, but when it works, it’s a rewarding experience.”

“I once hosted a large CWO event in Copenhagen where I worked alongside Tim Peake, the UK’s most famous astronaut. Tim presented a speech about his time in space which was mind-blowing.”

“Leaving an event I always feel fulfilled that my team and I delivered the best experience possible. Guests always benefit from the business content and peer-to-peer networking. Even though these are business-focused experiences, we still work hard to make them fun and memorable.”

“That’s easy. A combination of the right theme, the right people and content, the perfect location, the finest of fine dining, the tastiest of fine wines—and of course, our famous CWO competition.”

“It’s a great question, and one I have often thought about! First would have to be Nelson Mandela for obvious reasons—what an incredible human. My second choice would have to be the GOAT in the golfing world—Tiger Woods. My third and final choice would have to the other GOAT, but this time from the basketball world—Michael Jordan. Michael’s golf stories are legendary, and I’d love to be part of one of those.”

“We’re a small but mighty agency. We deliver 170+ global events a year. The goal is to get to the magical 200 number, ensuring we show measured growth while building a strong team around us. I’m also hoping to get my golf handicap down into single figures, and I have high hopes of playing off a 6! Both are important goals for me.”