About me
Over the years, I’ve amassed considerable experience in managing big brands across various communications disciplines around the world and across various business sectors. My time in South Africa has given me the pedigree to successfully run a group of companies in extremely challenging and complex circumstances. And my earlier career experience as Director of Advertising & Marketing has allowed me to develop corporate marketing communications skills. And I'm applying all of this to my passion in life: music, jazz and the artists who create the magic.
Specialties: Communications skills across product categories, disciplines and cultures.
Marketing, advertising, activation, media, PR, digital/CRM, brand consultancy, artist management, business strategy and development.
Trouble-shooter and turn-around specialist.
Talent you might be interested in
Richard Kirshenbaum
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
NSG/SWAT
Tamara Ingram
Former Chairman
Wunderman Thompson
Bruno-Georges David
Président
Communication Sans Frontières
Joe Sciarrotta
USA CCO
Ogilvy & Mather, Chicago
Mark Lund
President McCann Worldgroup UK and Europe
McCann Worldgroup UK
Positions
Trustee & Director
JazzUK
2016 - Present (8 years 11 months)
I'm honoured to have been elected as Trustee and Director of JazzUK, the new face of Jazz Services. JazzUK is a progressive organisation that unites the jazz and wider artistic communities by sharing the power of jazz music to increasingly greater and diverse audiences.
Consultant & Non-Executive Director
C8 Associates
2016 - Present (8 years 11 months)
Joined a talented group of people at C8 Associates, a firm that specialises in making creative and digital businesses successful and profitable. Our focus is on public affairs, business development, non-executive directors and coaching.
Director
Ubuntu Music
2015 - Present (9 years 11 months)
A newly formed recorded music label, committed to bringing quality, accessible jazz and related music to increasingly wider audiences.
Non-Executive Chairman & Shareholder
Edition Records Ltd
2014 - Present (10 years 11 months)
Edition is one of the leading, most progressive jazz record labels in Europe. I have the privilege to be part of such a talented group of artists and management.
Founder & Chairman
Ubuntu Management Group
2013 - Present (11 years 11 months)
I started an agency that specialises in communications, recorded music and artist management. We're adding new talent and expanding our offering.
Chairman
Billington Cartmell Group
2013 - 2014 (1 year)
An opportunity to serve as Chairman of Billington Cartmell International (integrated agency), Brave (creative agency) and Closer (live media and experiential agency). Good work, good people and a good future lies ahead.
Founding Partner, Chief Executive
Peak15
2012 - 2013 (1 year)
I took the long-awaited plunge to start my own agency, Peak15, with some exceptionally talented people who all worked with me at AMV BBDO.
Peak15 is the original name for Mt Everest and a symbol of our creative ambition.
We’re a media-neutral advertising agency, driven by creative excellence and accountability.
We’re a grown-up start-up, with unmatched experience within the industry.
We’re built on a technology platform, which makes us fast, efficient, cost-effective and, ultimately, very good at what we do.
We live by our founding principles and we partner with independent like-minded agency specialists from various disciplines to create a total communications offering that meets the needs of any brief.
Peak15 is the original name for Mt Everest and a symbol of our creative ambition.
We’re a media-neutral advertising agency, driven by creative excellence and accountability.
We’re a grown-up start-up, with unmatched experience within the industry.
We’re built on a technology platform, which makes us fast, efficient, cost-effective and, ultimately, very good at what we do.
We live by our founding principles and we partner with independent like-minded agency specialists from various disciplines to create a total communications offering that meets the needs of any brief.
Founder and Chairman
republiconsultingroup
2010 - 2011 (1 year)
Started a one man show, as a communications services agency, with digital at its heart. Did consulting work for several digital agencies. Assumed management position with a NASDAQ listed communications agency, writing the business strategy, acquisition plan and geography/disciplines for targeting.
Group Chief Executive
McCann Worldgroup South Africa
2007 - 2009 (2 years)
An experience I will always remember. Personally, professionally, commercially and managerially. Restructured McCann's offering in the country, across multiple disciplines and including JVs. Hired all new MDs to report to me. Redefined the group's vision and mission. Returned the group to profitability. Won the first creative awards in years. Media Agency of the Year. Short listed for Advertising Person of the Year. Developed my senior management skills exponentially.
Seduced to join the biggest advertising communications group in the world. Fixed some unstable international clients. Responsible for Boots Healthcare worldwide, J&J Europe, Cadbury Europe and Reckitt Benckiser worldwide. Managed to do some good creative work. Reported to the worldwide Group CEO. Won some massive new business. And then was asked to try to rebuild a disaster in Joburg.
International Services Director
Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, London
1991 - 2005 (14 years)
I had the time of my life, being a part of what became the best agency in London and one of the best agencies in the world. The most creative agency in the world and the largest in the UK. Working with the likes of David Abbott, Andrew Robertson and my boss, Michael Baulk. Helped AMV develop and grow from a local shop to an international force in the business. Ran, directly or indirectly, nearly all of the agency's international business, including Gillette, Pfizer, FedEx, BT, Charles Schwab, Dell, Frito-Lay, Pizza Hut and Pepsi-Cola International. Also dabbled in creative development.. Worked with the best people in the business. Oh, and I also wrote one of the Top 10 viral ads of all time (with a little help from Beyonce, Britney, Pink and Queen).
Director
BBDO London
1989 - 1991 (2 years)
Allen Roshenshine knocks on my door. London calls. Trouble with the local office. Was responsible for nearly everything. Worked with some exceptional talent, including Walter Campbell and Tom Carty. Key clients included Apple, Alberto-Culver, Delta Airlines, Gillette, Pepsi and Wrigley. Mission was to keep the agency solvent, as Omnicom sought the appropriate partner. And the ultimate partner was found...
Senior Vice President, Management Representative
New York, United States
1986 - 1989 (3 years)
A long trip to the epicenter of creativity, as the best agency there was and probably still is. Joined to manage Unilever US (Sunlight brands) and International, and was then offered the opportunity of a life time...Pepsi. Pitched and won the Pepsi International business. Grew BBDO's relationship from three to 65 countries. And we did the best creative work in the world, including a brief encounter with Madonna.
Always wanted to work on P&G...the best marketers on the planet. A G Lafley and Bob McDonald were my clients. And I got to work on the 'Green Beret' of P&G brands: Tide. Unforgettable experience, with amazingly talented clients and a brand as big as it gets.
Corporate Director, Advertising & Marketing
Atari, Inc., California
1983 - 1984 (1 year)
From DDB NY as account guy, to advertising & marketing client at the fastest growing company in the history of American business...in the heart of Silicon Valley, where Nolan Bushnell, Steve Jobs and, occasionally, Bill Gates used to hang out. The dynamic days of home computers, software and video games. An incredible and rewarding experience. Made me a better, broader, more creative and more commercially savvy comms man. Cannot say enough about it all.
Vice President, Account Supervisor
Doyle Dane Bernbach, New York
1980 - 1983 (3 years)
Wow, Doyle Dane Bernbach. When Bill Bernbach was still alive. The best creative agency in the world, and I had the chance to work on one of the biggest and most exciting clients, Atari.
Account Executive
Ted Bates, New York
1978 - 1979 (1 year)
A great place to start in the ad biz, with a marketing-driven nuts & bolts agency. The Mars business was my first client (Snickers, 3 Musketeers, M&Ms, Combos). My first pitch was General Foods, and we won it. Learned a lot but wanted to do great creative work.
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Economics & Marketing
1973 - 1978 (5 years)
Activities and Societies: Soccer, WVBR FM, The Unicorn Night Club, Theta Delta Chi, On Stage Magazine, The Ithaca Post
Business, Economics, Marketing
