EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Joao has been in the creative industry for over 11 years, working in countries like Mozambique, Spain and the UK. His love for the sun led him halfway down the globe to the UAE. Along the way he had the privilege of working on amazing brands such as Vodafone, L’Oreal, NY, KIA, Jeep, Maserati, Etihad, NIVEA, among others. His work has been awarded Eurobest, Gold and Bronze FIAP, and New York Festivals, to name a few. Sharing a common passion for brands, humans and honest creative. His new business drive and commitment to changing consumer behavior through fascinating ideas is what, he thinks, makes him tick. He is a devout CrossFitter living the desert life with the love of his life, Baco – his golden retriever.

Jason Foo is the founder and CEO of BBD Perfect Storm, a company that advises clients on brand and cultural transformation. He has more than 20 years’ experience building global consumer and business-to-business brands for clients across virtually every industry category. Established in 2013, BBD Perfect Storm has one many awards and accolades, including being featured as one of the World’s Leading Independent Agencies three times (2017, 2019 and 2020).  It is also currently ranked 6th in the Drum’s Top 100 Independent UK Agencies. Last year, its work in brand and cultural transformation led to it being cited as the ‘Best Industry Changemaker’ in the UK. 

Jason’s brand and business expertise is regularly called upon by the media for comment and advice, as well as giving keynote speeches at international conferences such as Tech Summit and Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity.

Wayne Naidoo is founder and Group CEO of DUKE, voted best Medium sized agency in South Africa at the AdFocus Awards.

A veteran adman, he believes that a fierce imagination, good data and a bold heart can liberate businesses and create new, profitable opportunities for clients.

Wayne has over 25 years’ experience in the Marketing and Advertising industry, having begun his career in marketing as the Marketing Manager of the Cape Town 2004 Olympic Bid Committee. Seduced by the world of advertising, he joined Lowe Bull soon after its inception, where he started out in Account Management and grew through the ranks to business development director before moving across into general management. During this time he worked on a varied array of blue chip accounts across Sub-Saharan Africa including Nike, South African Breweries, Coca-Cola, Unilever, Pick n Pay, Nando’s, Heineken and Johnson & Johnson.  In 2007, Wayne was promoted to Managing Director of the Lowe Group and in 2009 he filled the hot seat as the Group CEO.

During his tenure, Lowes was placed first in the Lowes Worldwide Network, ranked the No1 creative agency group in South Africa as well as being awarded Cape Town agency of the year. Lowes was also ranked 43rd Best ad agency group in the world by the Gunn Report – the only South African ad agency to have featured for over 3 consecutive years.

In Oct 2012, Wayne took up the position as Chief Marketing Officer for the newly-founded afb (now known as JUMO World) which, in a 2 year space has become one of Africa’s fastest growing Fintech companies, issuing over 50 000 loans a day.  After a very successful client stint, Wayne returned to his first love, advertising, and started DUKE.

Wayne is the current Chairman for the Association for Communication and Advertising in South Africa (ACA) and held the position previously in 2011, 2012 and 2020. He was also a board member for the AAA School of Advertising and Chairman of the Young Presidents’ Organisation (YPO) in Cape Town.

Wayne was also recently voted as a contender for the most admired Agency leader in the Country.

Chosen by the Circulo de Creativos Argentinos as Best Argentine Copywriter 2012, Juan began his career 18 years ago and he´s been working at ad agencies ever since, except for a 2 years period when he worked as copy producer at MTV.

Throughout this time he has won over 100 awards including Gold at Cannes, GP at El Ojo de Iberoamérica and GP at el Circulo de Creativos Argentinos. 

Before being appointed as ECD at The Cyranos Argentina, Juan worked at agencies such as Euro RSCG, Publicis México, JWT, The Community, Santo, Leo Burnett and DDB, generating campaigns for brand like Ford, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, VW, Vodafone, Emirates y Diageo. 

As Creative Director of DDB he was part of the Regional Creative Board.

CARLOS ANDRÉS RODRÍGUEZ

Chief Creative Officer / DAVID

Carlos Andrés started as a trainee almost 13 years ago in MullenLowe SSP3 Bogotá, and after working in the network’s office in London for one year, he went back to rose through the ranks of the Bogotá’s office again to become Executive Creative Director, and two years later Chief Creative Officer. This year, he and his partner opened DAVID Bogotá, the 5th office in the world of the multi-awarded agency, where Carlos is the CCO.

He’s also winner of more than 300 awards including the first Latin American Titanium Lion at Cannes, the only Latin American Innovation Grand Prix at Cannes as well and the Black Pencil of the Decade at D&AD. Carlos Andrés was also named the 2nd Best Creative Person in Iberoamérica according to El Ojo in 2020, and the 4th most admired advertising personality in Colombia according to SCOPEN 2020. He is also co-creator of the only Colombian campaign present in the Cannes Lions’ Game Changers book, and has been jury at Cannes Lions, Clio Awards, D&AD and Ojo de Iberoamérica among others.

As some highlights, he has been directly involved in projects with the last two National Governments, the historic Peace Process in Colombia, and Pope Francis’ International Project for Education. He has done some local, regional and global work for many brands of clients like ABInBev, Unilever, Edgewell, Aruba Tourism Authority among others.

Right now, he’s an active participant in the Berlin School Of Creative Leadership EMBA.