Bio

Meet Mario.

Apologies to David Byrne and all, but how did I get here?

It seems like yesterday I was back-packing round the world then going to University. Next thing, I’m out the doors into Margaret Thatcher’s dog-eat-dog Britain, sporting an English degree and a hangover.

As unemployment reached record levels, where was an impressive knowledge of Donne, Thoreau and Hemingway going to get me? Correct. Advertising: the last refuge of the vocationally challenged. Starting at Y&R in Manchester, then Publicis and Red Cell in London.

I won awards, travelled the world in unfamiliar style and wrote about everything from Alfa Romeos to Zodiac boats. Got a primo job at BBDO in Dubai, doing international campaigns for Pepsi. And then I quit and went motor racing. Well, wouldn’t you if someone offered the chance?

The catch was I had to set up and run a motorsport business for two investing partners. In year one, it became a multi-million US$ operation. By the end of year two I figured I’d done my job and headed for New Zealand.

As a senior writer at Ogilvy, creative director at Redrocks and a freelancer since 2002, I’ve created campaigns for some of the country’s best-known brands. Internationally, I’ve been writing global brand campaigns for the likes of Hitachi and US corporate advertising for General Motors.

It’s an unusual resumé, I know. But have you noticed how the thorniest creative problems rarely succumb to applications of ‘usual’? Perhaps I can help.

Qualifications

M.A. (Hons.) Literature

Dip. Marketing, Chartered Institute of Marketing.