David Craig

During a Macro career spent crossing continents, forming strong bonds with clients and developing emerging talent, David Craig has led from the front. Whether challenging the status quo, going outside his comfort zone or taking ownership of a big decision David’s focus on the long-term has kept his clients’ growth plans on course.

Having had a discipline of a military background, I felt the service industry was where I wanted to be and where I could add value for clients. I have strong leadership skills and build strong teams, for me much of what I do and what brought me into what I do is about bringing people, processes and advances in technology together to help keep clients moving forwards.

I previously worked with CBRE where I had worked on a new headquarters building for Invesco, and then joined Macro to build that account. At the time (late 2008) it felt like it might be a risky career move as Macro were a relatively new business, but I believed in the business, and in the client so made the jump.

It’s seeing people develop, working with the leaders of the future – that makes me sound old but developing and creating opportunities for people, and for our clients to do things better and move their portfolio forward so that we support the creation of their opportunities too is it for me, it’s what I’m about.

When I came to the US from the UK, the move was not so much for me but to help grow our teams. I was settled but I felt strongly that I wanted to take the opportunity to develop people and grow the business in a new country. To share what we do, how we do it and support how our profession can evolve here.

I like to challenge what goes on with people and clients, to go beyond the status quo when it’s needed and be courageous about how we do things. Sometimes driving clients into places outside of their comfort zone can drive progress so it’s what I like to do to help them achieve and exceed their goals. I live and breathe this approach with my team too, encouraging them to be courageous and make changes that deliver the best outcomes for our people and our clients.

Taking what was a relationship on a small account and developing into a global partnership which has been beneficial to us and to the client has been career defining for me. We started together in Henley-on-Thames, near London, and are now managing a global account – to start that process and build that is my biggest achievement for the business.

As an integral part of this, it has made me truly proud to see the talented people I’ve worked with progress into leadership roles. Seeing people who came in ten years ago, who worked diligently to deliver, learn and grow and who are now managing strategic clients is a great feeling.

When I joined, we were a fledgling business. It was a fairly new company, and as a team and as partners, we’ve shared a lot along the way to get to where we are, and I’m really excited that we’re going to get to do a similar thing again as we look to take the business into this new era.

Although we’ve come a long way since the time when Macro was a good move for me, with the ability and potential that we have in the business, the emerging technology we can harness in the industry and the scope we have to specialise even further, Macro is an even more exciting prospect now.

Simply delivering for our clients, the recognition that we’re making a difference in the workplace and growing our people. The retention of our clients through how we build long-standing, close relationships with them is something I love doing too.

Life skills are so important. Listen to your customers and people, embrace new ideas and people’s views. Empower people, we need to empower our people, there’s an element of trust in that you have to give your team the freedom to deliver the service, but keep your finger on the pulse, measure how you’re delivering, be across performance so that the trust you built has a foundation and a check and balance.

I’d also say that although change is inevitable, something to navigate or stay ahead of, keep stability around your long-term objectives – make measured decisions and think in the long-term.

I’m both technical and the head of a business unit, and sometimes making tough decisions is part and parcel of this and when it comes to that my experience says don’t duck or shirk these, they will have to be made so take the opportunity to make the best of them.

Take ownership of your own career. When I came to the United States, I had to move my family. I also did it taking ownership of the risk that it might not work. I knew that would be on me, which was also a motivation to make the move a success.

No one will do it for you when it comes to career building, so learn the right skills, have the right attitude, stretch yourself and do things outside your comfort zone. Do those things and you’ll develop a great career.

I love keeping fit. Back in the UK I used to walk the three peaks every year for a charity. I’ve bought this passion for the great outdoors with me, and so now I go mountain hiking in the Appalachian Mountains. Introducing others to hiking is something I really enjoy too. It’s great to be able to share your passion.