Mr Raoul Shah, BSc (Hons)

Raoul studied at Highgate School and graduated from UMIST in 1985 with a BSc Honours Degree in Textile Economics and Management.

His career started on the shop floor at Agnes B, Paris after which he joined Pepe Jeans in 1989. He spent five valuable years learning about marketing, the European retail industry and the secrets to establishing a successful global brand.

Raoul launched Exposure in 1993 – a creative communications agency that joins the dots between brands, culture and consumers. The London office opening was followed by New York (2003) and Tokyo (2008) – three culturally influential cities that have always inspired him. Paris opened in 2018 with another European hub on the horizon.

He splits his time between developing and building Exposure’s global influencer network and managing global clients including Levi’s®, Nike, Coca-Cola, Dr. Martens, Barbour, Uniqlo, LEGO and Converse alongside supporting emerging artists and pioneering start-ups.

The agency prides itself on long term client relationships (many for over 20 years) and has won numerous awards including Cannes Lions, D&AD, PR Week, MCCA and MAA. It remains one of the UK's largest independent agencies of its kind.

Positive agency culture has been an important facet to the Exposure business and initiatives such as the Exposure Gallery, Library and Bar have all been designed to ensure the work environment is conducive to creativity, ideas and sharing knowledge.

The Times once described Exposure’s offices as “a place that’s better than home” and Blueprint recognised the offices as "one of the offices of the future” when Exposure’s current space opened on Little Portland Street in 2000.

In 2007, The Guardian voted Raoul as the most influential ethnic minority working in media. He has been in the PR Week Powerbook every year since 2007 and has been featured in numerous global blogs and websites commenting on the power of influence and entrepreneurial culture.

He was a Trustee of the British Council for six years until 2014, a member of the Promote London Council for the Mayor of London between 2009 to 2011, and has been part of the advisory board for the London Design Festival since 2014.

In 2017, Creative Review listed Raoul amongst the Top 50 Creative Leaders in the UK. He currently holds the role of Chairman for the charity Creative Conscience and actively supports the community initiative ‘Create Not Hate’.

He collects a variety of cultural ephemera and in 2019 self-published a book about travel, peace and privacy called ‘Do Not Disturb’ featuring a collection of hotel door hangers that he started collecting in 1980.

His door is mostly open but when it’s shut, he’s probably spending quality time with his family in Annecy, France.