Communications agency Havas Red has released its latest white paper, In Plain Sight: The New Reality of CEO Visibility and Influence, delivering new insights for business and comms leaders. The research explores how the role of the CEO is rapidly evolving, driven by forces such as AI acceleration, fractured trust, and the rise of platform-native leadership.
Drawing on the foundations of Havas Red’s earlier 2020 report, Leading Through Crisis, this new research addresses the realities today’s executives face. The paper identifies four major forces transforming the leadership sphere in 2025, emphasising that modern visibility is less about presence, and more about credibility, trust, and genuine influence.
The four areas the research focuses on are:
- Values as a compass in a world of constant change
- The rise of the platform-native CEO who communicates with fluency, consistency and intent
- The erosion of inherited credibility in a fragmented trust environment
- AI as a strategic co-pilot, not a substitute for human judgment
“Visibility for today’s CEOs goes well beyond being seen. It’s about leading with clarity and conviction,” said Shane Russell, CEO Havas Red, Australia. “Australia’s media landscape is at a crossroads, and now more than ever, audiences are seeking, and indeed demanding, credibility and trust from leaders. Successful leaders will be those who communicate with purpose, listen deeply, and act boldly, setting a new benchmark for how visibility creates real impact in our market.”
The new report highlights that CEOs must unite clarity, consistency and credibility across every platform and stakeholder group, giving Australian leaders the opportunity to shape the future of business in ways that foster trust and growth.
“It also means that CEOs and executives must be prepared for the unexpected. In Australia, we’re seeing a rise in demand for reputational and crisis playbooks, media training, and strategies to extend executive influence across all earned and owned media platforms,” concluded Russell.
The white paper is now available for download from the Havas Red website.
