JOHN cook creative
A BRIEF HISTORY OF MY TIME
Born in Sunderland, went to Art College in Newcastle, then came down to London to make my fortune in Advertising.
Have I made my fortune?
Well, I wouldn't be making my own website if I had.
But thankfully, I've enjoyed almost every minute of not making my fortune.
Over the years I’ve worked with the very good, the very bad and the very ugly, on the good, the bad and the ugly: Charity, Fashion, Tourism, Healthcare, Automotive, Telecoms, Finance, Tobacco, Alcohol, Gambling, you name it I’ve probably done it.
I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some of the best in the business and pick up a few awards for creativity and effectiveness, from the likes of D&AD, One Show, Campaign, Creative Circle, Cannes, MAA, ISP, and RAB Aerial Awards.
It’s a rather eclectic mix of awards, but it’s testament to the fact that I understand how ideas work; above-the-line, below-the-line, through-the-line, wherever you draw the line I’ll happily cross it to make something good, that hopefully makes a difference.
I'm still passionate about creative work and enjoy being involved in every stage of the process from the creation of the brief to working with clients to find the best solution. Whether it's for a vaccine that saves lives or a voucher that saves someone 5p on a tin of beans,
Today, I'm constantly amazed how some people think enough, is enough, and accept blandness as a viable solution to a creative brief.
I believe advertising should make people laugh, cry or think, and I'm prepared to fight for that belief.
Which is probably why I haven't made my fortune.
AWARDS
ISP Gold and 3 Bronze (Promotions)
MCCA 2 Gold and 6 nomination (Multi Media)
RAB “Ad of the Decade” (Radio)
IPA Advertising Effectiveness Awards Silver (TV)
Aerial Awards Gold and 3 Silver (Radio)
D&AD Graphite and 7 Wood (TV, Radio and Press)
Creative Circle Gold and 2 Silvers (Radio)
The One Show 2 Silver 2 Bronze (Cinema and Radio)
BTAA 2 Silver (Cinema and Craft)
Campaign Poster 2 Silvers (Poster)
Cannes 3 Finalists (Cinema and Poster)
Communication Arts 2 (Press)
WPP Cream (Product Launch)
HOW DID I GET WHERE I AM TODAY
The World of Freelance
2011 - present
M&C Saatchi, Saatchi & Saatchi, VCCP, Ogilvy One, AMV, Hogarth, Spark 44, McCanns, Ogilvy Action, RAPP, Geometry Global, Krow...
Clients: Etihad Airways, British Airways, Diageo, Heinz, Birds Eye, Coca Cola, DFS, Bensons for Beds, BAT, HSBC, First Direct, American Express, Blackrock, Coutts, Natwest, Barclays Wealth, Barclaycard, Ernst & Young, Jaguar, Mercedes Benz, Fiat, Three, BT, Virgin Media, Currys PC World, Dove, Roche, Bayer, Merck and GSK as well as a few projects which I can’t tell you about.
141 Worldwide AKA Ogilvy Action AKA Geometry Global
2002 - 2011
As Group Head and later Creative Director I looked after the creative and design department, and I liaised with account teams and clients, presenting creative work at a European and Global level.
BAT global brands, HSBC Private and Commercial Bank, First Direct, Johnnie Walker Black Label, Adidas, Coral, United Biscuits, Allied Domecq, Evans, Racing UK, Motorola, Kodak, Duracell, P&G Fairy, Total Yoghurt. This included integrated campaigns covering the full path to purchase.
Banks Hoggins O'Shea
2000 - 2002
I led successful pitches and nurtured existing clients’ business, gaining a great deal of experience working on integrated campaigns, for Waitrose, Chrysler, Ladbrokes, Compaq, Brittany Ferries and Ferrero Rocher.
Collett Dickenson Pearce
1993 - 2000
I created work for the agency's leading clients, Hamlet, Benson & Hedges, Honda, Scottish & Newcastle Breweries, The Tower of London, Firestone, Whyte & Mackay, Total Jobs, Lipovitan, Guardian Royal Exchange, Bloomberg TV, Switch Card Services, Panasonic and Canon Cameras,
Simons Palmer
1992 - 1993
Nike, GMTV, British Telecom, Insurance Service, Virgin Upper Class and The Science Museum.
Harari Page
1990 - 1992
Harvey Nichols, Minolta Cameras, Atari Computers, Mulberry and Natural History Museum.