One team. Multiple studios.
We started business in 1995. Since then, we’ve grown and expanded, organically and by acquisition, from our origins in brand strategy consulting to brand identity, brand voice and brand experience.
We have been trusted by some of Australia and New Zealand’s largest institutions in the fields of corporate, government, professional services, education and not-for-profit.
We tackle the big branding issues of our times and create brands that are distinctive, genuine, desired and socially engaged. We have been recognised regularly for the last eight years with awards at the international REBRAND™ Awards.
We are now the most rewarded agency in Asia Pacific. It’s something we’re extremely proud of.
- Showing everyone
- Creative Managers
- Creative Thinkers
- Creative Designers
- Creative Writers
Steve Main
General Manager
Steve is a general manager who could double as a NZ travel guide. Rides his bike to work and crusades for four meals in a day. Spoke Japanese once.
Jodine Bell
Creative Director
Jodine is a creative director and practiced her Italian with chickens because they couldn’t tell her how bad she was. Quit her job to wrangle small children in Morocco. Once stripped Sophie Dahl naked.
Nick Sampson
Strategy Director
Nick is a Strategy Director who once drove a steam roller. Was allowed on the stop/go sign too. He thinks the Rikenbacker 330 is ‘the’ design classic. But plays a Tele these days. He secretly drink lattes. Likes flowers. And firmly believes a decent single malt and a chinwag paves the path to enlightenment.
Jo Hanson
Senior Account Director
Jo is a senior account director, who loves a good laugh almost as much as she loves a pepper-steak pie. Her granny will tell you that she’s a descendant of the French royal family, but you can just call her Jo.
Laura Heemskerk
Account Manager
Laura grew up in the Netherlands, amongst the flower fields, but here she’s struggling to keep her basil plant alive. Laura loves coffee and making dumplings, hiking and meeting new people. She has climbed Mt Taranaki and once drove a red Tuk Tuk around Sri Lanka.
Ava Wardecki-Locke
Account Executive
Paris born and Auckland raised Ava thinks in ‘Frenglish’. She’s a fan of hunting for northern lights and is on a crusade to tick off the art galleries of the world — all while wearing monochrome and stripes, of course. She loves the cold. Plays ice hockey. Once snorkeled between two tectonic plates in the middle of the Icelandic winter.
Stephen Kane
Senior Designer
Stephen is a senior designer and was called Mark for the first few weeks of his life. He moved from Scotland for the weather and geothermal activity (and possibly to escape his evil twin.)
Frank Turner
Senior Designer
Frank is a senior designer who learnt fluent Portuguese while working in Rio de Janeiro. Today he mostly uses it to politely refuse his wife's aunties 'interesting' cooking.
Jay Yang
Designer
A devout drinker of black coffee, Jay keeps a stash of hot sauce and kimchi pickles in the fridge for when caffeine won’t hit the spot. Claims you can’t find a sporty bone in her body, yet managed not to break any during six months in the Alps.
Sunita Ramsey
Finance Executive
Sunita is a finance executive who loves chocolate. And Michael Jackson. Did she mention chocolate?
Tom Brigstocke
Group CEO
Tom’s weekend relaxations include chopping wood and looking after cattle. He gets goosebumps from Elgar. Born in the USA. Still owns a Triumph 900 (his guilty pleasure). Dislikes tofu, likes steak tartare. And contends we have an apostrophe surplus.
Wayde Bull
Planning Director
Wayde worked on Margaret Thatcher’s re-election campaign (in short trousers). Has a collection of TinTin comics in mint condition. Runs long distances when his knees agree. Is a sucker for new apps, a good historic novel and West Wing repeats.
Tim Riches
Group Strategy Director
Tim is a pickle lover, sometime pickler and occasional smoker. Finds Zomato an invaluable antidote to restaurant indecision. He’s a small time gardener with a thing for bonsai and terrariums and a believer in the predictive power of science fiction.
Hamish Cargill
Director, Brand Voice
Hamish still struggles to correctly use ‘affect’ and ‘effect’. Has been a snow reporter. And a stuntman. Once woke to a member of the royal family jumping on his bed. Rode eventing horses professionally for 6 years. And still plans to compete at the Olympics.
Claire Gallagher
Internal Brand Director
Claire loves suprises (mostly), talking, Ireland and being a mum. Has a fear of fish. Danced with Salman Rushdie to ‘I Will Survive’.
Nick Ryan
Senior Writer
Nick is a writer who dreams of living in a tiny house one day, despite being 6’3". Once rode a brakeless bike around Portugal, wearing shorts and jandals. He has many passions outside of writing - including cryptozoology, 80s Rub-A-Dub, swimming in rivers, bioluminescence, wood fires, Spanish nights, and comfortable chairs.
Bowen Hanson
Resident Puppy
Bo, our resident puppy, joined us on Shortland Street in 2018 during the Chinese NY celebrations for the Year of the Dog. Bo’s greatest achievement to date, aside from stealing our hearts and the odd sock, is coming top-of-class in basic obedience at Barkley Manor — with a shining A+ grade. Next time you’re down town, ask him to show you his ‘down dog’. As a Springer Spaniel he’ll be more than happy to please.
