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Career Summary
I have more than 20 years’ experience in South Africa and Ireland’s top advertising agencies. I’m a problem-solver, a proven leader and a great collaborator. In September 2022, I was appointed a Eurobest juror, a Cannes juror in June 2022, a shortlist juror in 2021 and a first-time Cannes juror in 2014. In 2020, I was privileged to sit on juries for The D&AD Awards and The One Show. As a creative I have amassed over 80 awards (Cannes Lions, One Show pencils, Clio’s, D&AD Awards, Effies, Campaign of the Year, Kinsale Sharks, Loeries (South Africa), Bookmarks (Digital Awards, South Africa) and ICADS (Ireland)).
I love a challenge and enjoy what I do every day.
November 2022 - present
Bridget@thesticky.net
(March 2023 - 2024 ongoing) Consult to Genesis Brand Strategy Ireland and Aer Lingus Airlines on Brand Tone of Voice. Defining and building consistency across all audiences
(July 2023 - 2024 ongoing) Consult to Publicis One Touch on Nivea FACE, BODY and Sustainability campaigns
(August- September 2024) FY25 Creative Strategy for Johnson Controls International
(2023-2024) Agit8 Media London - Ongoing Creative consultation
(March 2024-June 2024) Consulted to The Riverbed Agency, South Africa, Nedbank GBV project
(August 2024) Law Society of Ireland Stump Speech for FY25
(November 2022) Consulted to Deloitte Ireland to help define and articulate their 3-year growth platform
(May-July 2023). Breast Cancer Ireland GPR campaign
May 2021 - October 2022
Executive Creative Director - Boys & Girls, Dublin, Ireland
Responsible for all the creative work at Ireland’s most awarded independent Irish advertising agency, on accounts such as Three Mobile; Three UK Chelsea Football (Women) sponsorship; Škoda; Roe & Co Whiskey; RTE, Kellogg’s; Colourtrend Paints, BelongTo
Highlights
Launched #WeSeeYou Network (Three UK), a global network to build careers of women in sport
Launched Three ‘Jeff’ Live connected campaign (Three UK)
Launched Škoda ‘s campaign to extend ‘Made for Ireland’ platform to ‘Experience Ireland in a Škoda’
Launched an award-winning campaign for Colourtrend paints
Kinsale Sharks Bronze – BelongTo Youth Services
Lurzer’s Archive – BelongTo Youth Services
ICADS Silver – BelongTo Youth Services
ICADS AWARDS GOLD – Advertising Craft single photography – BelongTo Youth Services
ICADS Awards Silver – Art Direction single – BelongTo Youth Services
ICADS Awards Silver – Advertising Display – BelongTo Youth Services
ICADS Awards Silver – Campaign – RTE Drama
ICADS Awards Silver - Film single – RTE Local Drama – office
ICADS Awards Silver - Film single – RTE Local Drama – Pub
ICADS Awards Bronze – Advertising Integrated & Earned – RTE Local Drama
November 2018 - April 2021
Executive Creative Director - The Riverbed Agency
Joined South Africa’s largest, black female-owned, independent agency working on brand and social impact projects for Aware.org (alcohol harm reduction); Nedbank (one of SA’s big 4 banks) Money Secrets campaign and a brand relaunch of McCain CCBSA; Sasol; Barloworld and others.
Highlights
Led the pitch that won the Nedbank PR account
Acquired the McCain brand and sustainability business without a pitch
Silver Loerie Award – Film over 90 sec
Bronze Loerie Award – Social media campaign
Silver Bookmark Award – Social media Campaign
2017 - 2018
Consulting Executive Creative Director - Black River FC
I led the creative department (15+) at Black River for 15 months on contract
Highlights
I grew the Mazda business for the agency.
Won the pitch for global brand, OLX, to launch the brand to SA’s mass market.
Introduced a successful brand campaign for global brand, Wonga
2XPromax Golds for My Kitchen Rules, Survivor for M-Net – a South African satellite TV platform running franchises such as Game of Thrones, Survivor, My Kitchen Rules, Dancing with the Stars and others
Bronze Loerie Award - Integrated Campaigns (OLX)
Won additional project on e-ticket service, Computicket.
2015 - 2016 (Rosebank, Johannesburg)
Executive Creative Director - M&C Saatchi Abel
Creative department head (in Johannesburg) at M&C Saatchi Abel. Led a department of 30+ creatives on various accounts: Nando’s, Five Roses tea, Rooibos tea, crisp brand, Ghostpops, Nedbank Sponsorship, Sun International.
Highlights
Gold Loerie (sponsorship) - Nedbank Re-imagines Money
Bronze Loerie (sponsorship) – Nedbank Wonderland Project
Gold AMASA (Marketing Institute of Africa) - The Red Cross Children’s Hospital ‘Give childhood back’
Gold AMASA (Marketing Institute of Africa) - Nedbank Wonderland Project
Appointed as an APEX (EFFIES) effectiveness juror
2013 - 2015 (Ireland-Davenport)
Executive Creative Director
Oversaw the entire creative output on the Vodacom account for SA for a period of 24 months. Worked with the EHOD (Executive Head of Department – Vodacom (fone) Marketing), Retail Business Lead – Vodacom (fone), agency Strategy Director and founder partners to co-ordinate promotional and brand campaigns, overseeing multiple partner agencies. Led a team of 30+ creatives across post and pre-paid contracts businesses; Vodacom Youth Portal; Vodacom Insurance; Vodacom Foundation
Highlights
Cannes Lion Bronze for The War Museum ‘Cup of Life’
Most successful Vodafone Summer campaigns (2013 & 2015) replicated in other markets
Millward Brown’s #1 Most Loved Commercial – 2015 – (priest)
Vodafone RED Award for most successful campaign of 2015
Millward Brown’s #1 Most Loved Commerical – 2013 – (Baby buffering)
‘Baby Buffering’ campaign replicated in 5X Vodafone markets
November 2003 - April 2013
Creative Director/Copywriter - Ogilvy Johannesburg
Early years at Ogilvy, cut my teeth on KFC, Glaxo-Smith Kline, Amstel Lager, Castle Lager, DSTV (Satellite TV), M-NET, Audi, Harley-Davidson, Exclusive Books, Huggies, Baby-soft, Kotex – winning awards across accounts.
Highlights
Became a creative director in 2008
Won multiple international awards
Most awarded Ogilvy creative director in the JHB group, 2011.
Launched Cadbury Bubbly Bar with record results (Gold Apex award, 2012)
Creative director on The Topsy Foundation, winning the first Gold Cannes Lion in film for SA in 11 years for AIDS piece, Selinah. (2010)
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN PROFESSIONAL ACADEMY - Oct 2022 - March 2023
Diploma in Digital Marketing (Distinction)
UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN — May 2017 - Nov 2017
Online Short Course in Digital Marketing (GET SMARTER)
· This course is designed to update and consolidate digital marketing & digital strategy skills across a broad spectrum of disciplines.
RHODES UNIVERSITY — Feb 1991 - Nov 1993
BACHELOR OF ARTS (ENGLISH & LAW)
REFEREES
Monalisa Zwambila, CEO, The Riverbed Agency, South Africa, +27 83 457 6632
Rory Hamilton, Boys & Girls, Dublin, Ireland, +353 86 852 7915