Bio & things mom would love.



I was told twice in my career I shouldn't get into the business. I love when people tell me I can’t. A few years later this happened: Adweek's  "Creative 100, The Names You Need to Know Right Now” and Adweek's 22 "Creative Directors who are Completely Reimagining What's Possible in Advertising". I take my motivation from a lot of places but mostly from the hardest things I face, especially impossible briefs.

A few career highlights. I recently led the creative at Laughlin Constable and at Energy BBDO as Executive Creative Director. For the later, as SVP global ECD over 6 brands and 90 markets. Prior, I worked at Leo Burnett Chicago as an SVP Creative Director, leading the global rebranding effort for Samsung mobile, creating "Do What You Can't", featuring the Ostrich that learned to fly, winning 7 Cannes Lions as well as launching the "Unbox your phone" Galaxy 8 global launch. I’m responsible for the McDonald's Sundial that was inducted into the Clio Hall of Fame and have been recognized for work that made UnitedHealthcare a famous brand, featuring the Dirty Dancing couple whose integrated campaign won Gold at Cannes. Other recognized work featured growing a salad on a McDonald's billboard, a mumbling Ozzy for Samsung, a reformed man eating alien for Kellogg's, the US Army Special Forces Take a Brochure campaign and the McDonald's Academy Awards film, awarded best in show for film using just type.

I’ve been so graciously honored by 20 of the most significant advertising award shows from around the globe over 350 times. My work has been parodied, become national news broadcasts and media sensations. I’ve appeared in broadcast interviews and have been a keynote speaker at marketing conferences, including Cannes Lions in Ecuador.
I’m a very proud father and native Texan, love just about anything outdoors but completely terrified of heights - I’m working on it. Serendipitously, my baby sitter was Melinda Gates. Mom and Dad owe her a few bucks I think.


 

 

Laughlin Constable

executive creative director

2019 - 21
Executive creative lead across the entire portfolio of brands for the Chicago and Milwaukee offices. Hired specifically to improve the creative product and at times it took bending the laws of physics and time. Creative lead on production and talent as well as on the hook for work across all media channels, including building content with our production dept, Hive.  Partnered with some unusual and challenging clients to help change business models, mentor in strategic and digital thinking and bring them to market with scrappy budgets in zero time. Lead in design, experiential, site development, tech and social. Lead in new business efforts, landing Vienna Beef, Grand Craft wood boats, Astra Zeneca and Los Cabos Tourism. Absolutely loved every second of what I did.

 

EnergyBBDO

svp global executive creative director

2017 – 19
Global executive creative lead across 90 markets for SC Johnson brands on Ziploc, Windex, Raid, Off and Drano. Oversaw creative and talent for teams at BBDO Argentina, BBDO Shanghai, CLMBBDO, BBDO India, Almap BBDO and Energy Chicago. Responsible for work across all media channels, leading creative with partner agencies Tracy Locke, Phd and UEG. Developed new strategic brand platforms for all brands globally and leading adaptations for specific markets to connect them deeper into their cultures. Creative lead for AT&T projects with partner digital agencies We are Unlimited and Tribal.

 

Leo Burnett

svp creative director

2002 – 17
Creative lead on Global Samsung Mobile for integrated, above the line, social and digital for brand development and product launches.  Led the integrated Global Galaxy 8 launch, including writing and developing the inspirational platform "Do What You Can't" to relaunch the Samsung brand - their first ever cohesive global launch, featuring the Ostrich film, winning 7 Lions. Led partner agencies and creative teams, including R/GA, BBH, Turner Duckworth, Digitas and the LB global network. Developed the campaign plan and strategic thinking across one of their largest and most diverse media platforms to date.
Creative lead for UnitedHealthcare, winning a Gold Lion for integrated in '16 and pulling a client out of a much loathed category into a beloved, talked about brand. Recent lead on Allstate, Delta faucets, managing teams and creative development. Previous creative lead on Sprint, Samsung Mobile, Nintendo, McDonald's and US Army. Creative lead on new business wins for the $1 billion Dog Chow brand and fortune 14 United Healthcare.

Leap Partnership

creative partner

1998 – 02
An agency with many quirky names like the Leap Partnership, Quantum Leap, Leapnet, SPR and Royal Order of Experience Design. Creative directed on Michelob, Budweiser, Hardee's and NEC. Art directed for MSNBC.com, VFW and Cieva. Took a traditional agency known for its TV craft and helped evolve it into the digital space with big brands expressed across all sorts of crazy media.

 

 

BBDO

art director > senior art director

1995 – 98
The place where I learned and unlearned, succeeded and failed, created and dismantled, building a background of what works and doesn't on some big brands. Made some good friends and habits along the way. A few brands I worked on included Wrigley, Canadian Club, Rock Hall of Fame, Motorola, Ziploc, and Smirnoff.


 

not afraid to speak

Cannes Lions Equador keynote speaker
SCJ Young Marketers Association Keynote speaker
15 second Conference Istanbul Keynote invitee
Creighton University keynote marketing and creative speaker
Keynote speaker Las Vegas for tech and printing convention
Teacher Chicago Portfolio School
Addressed Pentagon and members of the JCOS / 4 star generals on US Army marketing
University of Texas Portfolio Review volunteer

 

awards +

 MOST RECENT 

NEW BUSINESS WINS 20-21’
Astra Zeneca
Los Cabos Tourism
Grand Craft Boats
Vienna Beef

2021 - CANNES bronze, ONE SHOW bronze

2018 - D&AD yellow, wood, graphite pencils, ANDY 2 gold,  ONE SHOW Best in Discipline, 3 gold, 1 silver, 2 merit    ADC. Best in Discipline, 4 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze, 1 merit.  BRTISH ARROW Best in Craft, 2 gold, 3 silver, EFFIE bronze, LONDON INTERNATIONAL gold

2017 - CANNES 3 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze, EFFIE gold, CLIO 1 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze, LONDON INTL 5 gold, silver, 2 bronze  SHARK silver, merit, CICLOPE FEST gold  SHOTS gold, bronze

2016 - CANNES gold, bronze, 2 shortlist, D&AD graphite pencil, INTL ADDY gold, EPICA gold, REG ADDY 2 gold, SHARK 2 gold

2015 - D&AD graphite pencil, INTL ADDY best of show, REGIONAL ADDY best of show, EPICA gold, SHARK 2 gold, IPA gold

 

CAREER

CANNES 7 gold, 4 silver, 9 bronze lions, 37 shortlists

ONE SHOW best in discipline, 3 gold, silver, gold interactive, 2 silver interactive, 2 bronze pencil, 10 merits

INTL ANDY 3 gold, 4 silver, 2 merits  

D&AD yellow, graphite, 3 wood pencils, silver nom

CLIO '14 hall of fame inductee, grand clio, 2 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze, 2 merits

INTL ADDY best of show, best of show finalist, 6 gold, silver, merit

ADC best in discipline, 4 gold, 3 silver cube, 3 merits

OBIE best of show, 4 gold, 2 merit

LONDON INTL 8 gold, silver, 3 bronze, 2 merits

N.Y. FESTIVALS 3 gold medals, 2 silver, 2 merits

BRTISH ARROW Best in Craft, 2 gold, 3 silver

COMMUNICATION ARTS ANNUAL (4), advertising/digital and interactive

ARCHIVE (3)

SHARK 4 gold, 3 silver

EFFIE 2 gold, bronze

EPICA 2 gold

RGL ADDY best of show, 7 gold, 1 silver, 2 merits

CHICAGO ADDY 2 best of show, 6 gold, 3 silver, 7 bricks, 17 merits

HUGO 2 gold, 3 silver

SHOTS gold, bronze

CHICAGO INTL FILM FEST best of show, gold, silver

MOBIUS best of show, 3 finalists

EPICA 2 gold, 2 bronze

CICLOPE FREST gold

CREATIVITY top 10 cube 2 features

DAVY'S gold

AICP platinum

DALLAS ADDY Best in Show, gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze

MM&M awards best in show, titanium, best in show

Crain's Chicago Business Review, WTTW/Chicago Tonight segment & interview

Adweek best spot (7), US Ad Review, Art Direction Spotlight, Art Direction Feature,

TELLY 2 silver, 3 bronze, viral merit

Adweek creative feature AdAge creative spotlight Ad Forum top ad in the world 3 months

AdCritic top 2 ads 10 months running, spot of the week (8), #1 top 20 for 4 months

Leo Burnett World Network bronze pencil

Fox News National: best spot of 2009

Chicago Sun Times Best Spot '03

DAVY'S gold

IPA AWARDS best of show, gold, silver

IMPACT AWARDS gold

GOLD TRUMPET best of show

CLIO executive judge INTL ANDY judge (2x)

Mt.Carmel pie-eating champion, Div.I Soccer 1st Place, Eagle Scout

 

 

 



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