About
In a career spanning three decades, Mike has worked at some of the most illustrious creative agencies in the world - starting with seven years at JWT in London, where he cut his teeth as an art director on a range of accounts such as Unilever, Mr Kipling, Kraft, Guinness and many more.
Approached by FCB, he then joined their exciting and highly regarded creative department, producing award-winning work for London Transport, Cadbury's and The Daily Mail.
Stepping up a level, Mike next moved to Saatchi & Saatchi, establishing their new Middle East headquarters in Dubai as Head of Art and helping Saatchi become one of the fastest-growing and awarded agencies in the Middle East.
In 1998 David Droga offered him the role as National Creative Director, Saatchi & Saatchi Vietnam, with offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, serving global accounts such as P&G, Toyota and Hewlett Packard. They successfully pitched for and won the BP business (still the largest single account ever to move agencies in Vietnam.)
And two years later, in a third stint at Saatchis, he was tempted back to work in the UK by David Droga again, by now Executive Creative Director in London. Mike spent the next three years here in the world's hottest creative department, helping Saatchis become Agency of the Year at Cannes.
In 2004, Mike and his creative partner, Howard Fretten, were headhunted by Dave Alberts at Grey to look after some of the agency's most valuable P&G brands - Pringles, Flash & Bold, and to work on AOL. They stayed for three years, helping raise the profile of the company, mentoring a young department and winning several awards for P&G.
In 2007 he was approached by Face to Face, the largest and most successful independent agency in the Middle East, based in Dubai, to become their Creative Director, working on Rani Juice, Vimto, Barbican and Jumeirah Group Hotels.
This period saw spectacular growth for the agency, winning a huge range of clients including Vaseline, Lipton Tea, Legoland Dubai, Bridgestone, Panasonic, RSA Insurance, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Rainbow milk and Yakult.
Over the years, his restless passion for building brands through producing highly creative and effective advertising has not dimmed. In fact, as the canvas has grown ever larger with the advent of digital, he’s become more passionate and curious than ever before.
AWARDS:
Cannes Lions: Gold (TV)
D&AD: (TV)
Campaign Poster Awards Silver x 3
Campaign Press Awards: Silver
British Television Advertising Awards: Silver
Kinsale Shark Award: Silver
Spikes Asia Awards: Silver
Epica: Silver
Clio: Bronze
One Show: Silver
Dubai Lynx: Radio nomination x 5