About Me

Born in Ireland and raised in South Africa, I gravitated to advertising after a friend said copywriting was easy money.

I’ve never forgiven him.

I got my first break at Young & Rubicam as a junior writer, and left as a creative group head.

Then it was on to Ogilvy and FCB, culminating in becoming Executive Creative Director of FCB Johannesburg.

The opportunity arose to co-found a Joburg office for independent Cape Town agency King James. In four years we took it

from four people, one account and a mobile phone, to 30 people, 15 accounts  and quite a few mobile phones.

I then moved to the Lowe Worldwide Group (now MullenLowe), first in Joburg and then Prague. 

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But home is home, where I spent almost five years as CCO of Havas Johannesburg, and am now embarking on a brand-new adventure by going solo.

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I have extensive experience on clients of all shapes and sizes - from global giants like Unilever and RB, to smaller, adventurous brands such as 702 Talk Radio and Medal Paints.

Industry-wise, I've worked on - amongst others - cars, cellular, banks, medicinal & health, QSR's, radio stations, TV stations, airlines, magazines and newspapers.

I've also had considerable experience working across borders for agency networks like Havas and Lowe, running big multinational campaigns and projects. 

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I'm equally comfortable overseeing a huge project, or writing a snappy headline for a single-page ad or facebook post.

The desire to be hands-on and actually create work myself has never left me.

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I've won my fair share of awards and have sat on juries for Cannes, Loeries, the New York Festivals and the African Cristal Awards.

Advertising aside, I have four great loves – my wife, my daughter, guitars and Arsenal Football Club.

I’d add harmonica in too, but I can't really play it because my wife won't let me practice on the house.

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