I have specialized in multi-discipline creative for over 25 years, my experience has included working in the US and the UK markets, and on global projects for some of the world's largest brands.
I was born and raised in the UK, starting my career in 1996 as an intern at the London office of global branding icons, Landor Associates. In 2009 I made the jump to the US as part of an agency team purposely built to service the launch of a new $2BN grocery chain based in Los Angeles. I stepped out to run my own boutique agency, before being recruited to lead the creative for an ever-larger series of agencies.
recent
I’ve used this global experience to cross the gamut of creative needs, working on projects that include; advertising, broadcast, branding, content, key art and packaging, producing a wide-range of work for varied and ambitious clients.
I excel in understanding the market and the client's needs, while curating and leading talented professionals to deliver innovative work for clients of all sizes – most recently focusing in entertainment key art, with global clients that include; ABC, CBS, Disney, NBC and Amazon's Prime Video.
work
Agency: PCH
Role: Creative Director
Date: 2020
PCH solves marketing and content problems for clients across all industries – providing solutions built from an expertise in strategy, ideation, design, image and motion capture, production, and community management.
As a creative and production agency, PCH thrives on building engaging work with ambitious partners, proud of their commitment to quality – where the mantra of ‘excellence as standard’ is infused into everything the team does.
broadcast
Client: Maruchan
Agency: AMP Agency
Role: Group Creative Director
Dates: 2019-2020
Maruchan have sold a lot of noodles to become a multi-billion dollar company, and as their AOR, my team covered all aspects of their brand vision and voice.
Starting with the brand strategy and creative platform, we brought this insight to life through broadcast, content, digital and experiential workflows, supplying monthly content that spoke to their defined marketing personas.
This recent broadcast spot was the flagship release that invited consumers to bring smiles to their table – the core brand platform – with a series of additional narratives used for social and digital channels.
experiential
Client: Backwoods
Agency: AMP Agency
Role: Group Creative Director
Dates: 2019-2020
Immediately after winning the experiential AOR account for ITGB's Backwoods cigars, we were tasked with bringing their ComplexCon presence to life. With a little over three weeks notice, we concepted, built, organized and delivered the site of their first offical merchandize release – a collaboration with Mifland.
With various legalities and restrictions in place due to tobacco regulations, we worked tirelessly to ensure the brand voice was heard in a responsible way, while bringing the experience to a wider audience by shooting content for all of the client's digital and social channels.
deliverables reel
Client: Nike
Agency: Splash Worldwide
Role: Creative Director
Date: 2017
With a studio in the Pacific Northwest, Splash Worldwide has a long and collaborative partnership with Nike, beginning with a production and retouch based remit. We worked directly with all of Nike's individual sports categories, including the standalone Jordan brand, and collaboratively with Nike's creative AOR, Weiden+Kennedy.
In more recent years – as I guided Splash's new creative arm – Nike began to use our creative services, seeking our fresh perspective and nimble delivery for high profile, high quality, quick turnaround projects. The 2017 Nike reel, above, gives an overview of the volume and quality of work produced within the calendar year for one the world's most iconic brands.
snackable content
Specializing in fast turnaround 'snackable' content, globally known brands including Asics and Beats came to me and my team for high-quality deliverables, aimed at engaging their dedicated target audience in an overly saturated, visually busy environment.
Often working under tight deadlines, ideation, approval, production, rounding and release took just a matter of days for the Asics DynaFlyte video, and under two weeks for the Beats animation – including building the speaker in CGI.
b2b content
Client: Primary Color
Agency: PCH
Role: Creative Director
Date: 2020
With over 35 years of experience, Primary Color are known as industry leaders in print and fabrication – but their services cover a much wider gamut of marketing needs, and bring a level of quality and craftsmanship unmatched within the sector.
Counting some of the world's largest brands as their clients, Primary wanted to tell their story – their daily dedication to detail.
select clients
testimonials
Working alongside Mike has been an extremely positive experience. He is a terrifically talented GCD, always able to cut through the noise and discover insightful and effective creative solutions.
As a creative leader, he unified a previously disjointed group into a powerhouse creative team.
Mike is one of the best creative partners I've worked alongside.
james herrera Director, Experience Strategy AMP Agency
Los Angeles, CA
It’s rare to find a brilliant creative thinker and a business-focused leader. Mike is this rare combo.
My time working with Mike was a pleasure and inspiring.
He was thoughtful but ready to take calculated risks that ultimately delivered results for our agency, and delighted the clients as well.
erik semmelhack Chief Revenue Officer Splash Worldwide
New York, NY
At Splash, we sought Mike out to take on the newly formed Creative Director role, as we were making a shift in our business to a creative-driven model.
We needed someone that could oversee all aspects of the creative process, including re-building the studio team, implementing best practices and process – all while delivering high quality creative solutions to a series of varied and demanding clients.
We made a great choice in Mike, as he re-invigorated so much more than just the deliverables. Leading his new team of creatives to produce great work, he quickly gained our client's trust.
And not just with the creative itself, but also with a calm, can-do attitude to each project’s challenges.
dan ostrander Founder/Managing Partner Splash Worldwide
Portland, OR
Mike is incredible, loved every minute working with him on a client brand development program.
Mike was the Creative Director on the program and made it seamless to bridge in ideas I and my team were working on for the client, into a cohesive creative direction Mike created for the client.
His creative, production and design skills are incredible, but it's his added savviness and ability to understand, explain and expand on complex brand strategies that makes him invaluable.
jeremy tucker Founder/Managing Partner Major Futures
New York, NY
