This is the part where I write about myself which always feels a little bit embarrassing. To prepare, I've spent many hours studying the art of agressive self-promotion by browsing LinkedIn. Here we go...
I started out as a copywriter in New Zealand where there is only one advertising agency and two clients. We worked late into the night, taking turns writing up our best ideas with the agency pen, then eventually drifting off into a peaceful slumber under our desks. After overhearing someone say that there were more exciting countries out there beyond New Zealand, I moved to Australia and immediately realized that this wasn't what they were talking about.
A few years later I arrived in New York after winning the green card lottery, which is the world's greatest immigration system. I'd never actually been to the U.S. before, but I decided to move to NYC with nothing but two suitcases and a dream. The dream was to own three suitcases, and eventually that dream came true.
Here are some things I can do - come up with great ideas, execute them really well, help other creatives make their ideas better, manage and mentor creative teams, sell work to clients, pitch and win new business, win awards, and cut my own hair.
Here are some things I can't do - a good American accent, tolerate anything with onions on it, understand the need for leaf blowers, accept that anyone in the NBA is a better player than New Zealand's favorite son Steven Adams.
Creative Director / Writer
Freelance
Nov 2022 - Present
Creative Director
Bullish NYC
Mar 2020 - Oct 2022
Worked on - Anheuser-Busch, Bose, J.P. Morgan Chase, Mack Weldon, Nom Nom, Neighborly
Creative Director / Writer
Freelance - CP+B, McCann NY, McKinney, Technology Humans and Taste, Bullish, etc
Apr 2017 - Feb 2020
ACD / Writer
Saatchi & Saatchi NYC
Mar 2014 - Apr 2017
Worked on - Cheerios, Fiber One, Walmart, Lenovo, Chase, Spectrum
Senior Writer
Freelance - Anomaly, Saatchi, Havas, Blast Radius, Publicis
Feb 2013 - Mar 2014
Worked on - Converse, Bacardi, Clearasil, Wendy's
Senior Writer
SS+K NYC
Aug 2011 - Jan 2013
Worked on - Chevy, Kraft, Obama 2012, College Board, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brand Israel
Senior Writer
Freelance - DDB Sydney, The Monkeys Sydney, US Sydney, 303 Sydney
July 2010 - July 2011
Worked on - Volkswagen, Telstra, SBS TV, Contiki, Pepsico, Cerebos, Westpac
Copywriter
Leo Burnett Sydney, Australia
Nov 2008 - May 2010
Worked on - Subaru, Canon, WWF, McDonalds, Heineken, Bundaberg Rum, AAPT
Copywriter
JWT Sydney, Australia
Nov 2007 - Nov 2008
Worked on - Kelloggs, Kraft, Ford, Olympus, Purell, Lux, Thrifty Rental Cars
Junior Copywriter
M&C Saatchi Auckland, New Zealand
Feb 2006 - Nov 2007
Worked on - NZ Police, Qantas, ANZ Bank, Pizza Hut, Pfizer
Bachelor Of Communication Studies - Advertising Major
Auckland University of Technology
Feb 2001 - Nov 2003
Auckland, New Zealand