ABOUT pre-Johannes Leonardo

Just another ECD with his arms crossed.

Hello! I'm Jim, an ECD/writer from Detroit now based in Dubai.

Thus, my URL is a lie. But "WriterNoLongerDownUnder" is such a mouthful.

I moved to Australia in 2014 when long-time agency crush Clemenger BBDO came calling, but after nearly 3 years and 3000 meat pies, I moved home to be closer to family. But have since moved away again for an incredible opportunity in Dubai (go figure!).

I've been lucky enough to take part in campaigns totaling 24 Cannes Lions, three Webbys and one Emmy nomination in 13+ years.

I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to managing teams or client partners, but think each relationship should be as unique as the work itself.

Thanks for stopping by!

TBWA \ RAAD DUBAI

EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Dec. '20 - present

KFC, Nissan, Standard Chartered, Under Armour

VMLY&R NEW YORK

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Aug. '18 - Dec. '20

2020 Campaign Agency of the Year

Dell Technologies, National Opioid Action Coalition,

Optimum TV & Internet

SID LEE NEW YORK

ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Feb. '17 – Nov. '17

Netflix, North Face, Stella Artois, Yahoo Fantasy Football

CLEMENGER BBDO MELBOURNE (AUS.)

SENIOR CREATIVE

July '14 – Sept. '16

2016-17 Cannes Lions Agency of the Year

2016-17 D&AD most awarded agency globally

2015 & 2016 Campaign Brief Australian Agency of the Year

Carlton Draught, M&Ms, Mercedes, National Australia Bank, Pedigree, Snickers, Transport Accident Commission(road safety), Virgin Australia, Visit Victoria

Work History

BBH NEW YORK

CREATIVE

Nov. '11 – Nov. '13

2012 Webby Awards Agency of the Year
AXE, Bailey's, Cole Haan,

Dove Men's Care, Google Chrome,

Johnnie Walker, PlayStation 4

CRISPIN PORTER + BOGUSKY,

BOULDER, CO

WRITER / SENIOR WRITER

March '10 – Nov. '11

2010 Cannes Lions Interactive Agency of the Year

American Express, AXE,

Best Buy, Coke Zero, Domino's,

Microsoft, Microsoft Bing,

VitaminWater, Windows Phone

BOONEOAKLEY, CHARLOTTE, NC

COPYWRITER

Aug. '07 – March '10

2009 Ad Age Small Agency of the Year – Southeast

Bloom Supermarkets, CarMax,

Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Mizuno, MTV,

One Show Call for Entries,

Ruby Tuesday, State Farm

Awards & Press

Emmy nomination (Google: Jess Time)

Cannes Lions 2017 Creativity Report – 8th-ranked writer globally

One Show / One Club Best of the Digital Decade (BooneOakley agency site)

2020 Campaign Brief – Australian Campaigns of the Decade (Snickers Hungerithm)

2016 Campaign Brief – No. 4-ranked creative in Australia

2017 One Club – 7th-ranked writer globally

Mashable – No. 1 Tear-Jerker Ad of All Time (Google: Jess Time)

Huffington Post – No. 1, Most Innovative Websites Ever (BooneOakley)

September 18, 2017 Adweek cover (Hungerithm)

CANNES

222018 Bronze, Creative Effectiveness (Snickers Hungerithm)

2017 – Finalist, Titanium (Hungerithm)

2017 Gold, Cyber (Hungerithm)

2017 Gold, Mobile (Hungerithm)

2017 Gold, Media (Hungerithm)

2017 Gold, Direct (Hungerithm)

2010 Gold, Cyber (BooneOakley agency site)

2017 Silver, Promo + Activation (Hungerithm)

2017 Silver, Cyber (Hungerithm)

2017 Silver, Mobile (Hungerithm)

2017 Silver, Media (Hungerithm)

2017 Silver, Direct (Hungerithm)

2014 Silver (PlayStation 4 Launch)

2017 Bronze, Integrated (Hungerithm)

2017 Bronze, Promo + Activation (Hungerithm)

2017 Bronze, Cyber (Hungerithm)

2017 Bronze, PR (Hungerithm)

2017 Bronze, Direct (Hungerithm)

2016 – Finalist, Film (TAC: Road Toll)

2015 – Shortlist, Film (TAC: Strings)

2011 – Shortlist, Cyber (Coke Zero: TRON)

ONE SHOW

2018 Finalist (MINI Trolls the Emmies)

2017 Gold, Branded Social (Snickers Hungerithm)

2010 Gold, Interactive (BooneOakley agency site)
2017 Silver, Digital (Hungerithm)

2017 Silver, Websites (Hungerithm)

2017 Silver, Mobile (Hungerithm)

2010 Silver, Cyber (BooneOakley)

2017 Bronze, Data Driven Personalization (Hungerithm)

2016 Bronze, Film (TAC: Strings)

2017 Merit, Branded Social (Hungerithm)

2017 Merit, Social & Viral Marketing (Hungerithm)

2016 Merit, Film (TAC: Road Toll)

2013 Merit, Film (Google: Jess Time)

CLIOS

2016 Bronze (Snickers Hungerithm)

2015 Bronze (Victoria Bitter: WWI)

2014 Silver (PlayStation 4 Launch)

2010 Bronze (BooneOakley agency site)

WEBBY AWARDS

2017 Best Mobile Campaign (Snickers Hungerithm)

2017 Best in Food & Beverage (Hungerithm)

2013 Finalist, Copywriting (Google: Coffee)

2010 Best in Pro. Services (BooneOakley agency site)

D&AD

2017 Wood Pencil, Best Use of Social Media (Snickers Hungerithm)

2014 In-Book (PlayStation 4 Launch)

FWA

2010 Site of the Month (BooneOakley agency site)

---

2014 Site of the Day (PlayStation 4 Launch)

2011 Site of the Day (Coke Zero:TRON)

2010 Site of the Day (BooneOakley)

OTHER

2022 Dubai Lynx – Silver (Kill Your Kids)

2022 Dubai Lynx – Silver (KFC ChickenStock)

2022 Dubai Lynx – Bronze (KFC ChickenStock)

2022 Caples Awards – Gold (KFC ChickenStock)

2021 Loeries – Silver (Hebrew Card)

2020-21 Dubai Lynx – Gold (Hebrew Card)

2020-21 Dubai Lynx – Silver (Hebrew Card)

2020-21 Dubai Lynx – Bronze (Hebrew Card)

2020-21 Dubai Lynx – Bronze (Nissan: Coincidences)

2018 ADC Finalist (MINI Trolls the Emmies)

2018 Ad Age Editor's Pick (MINI Trolls the Emmies)

2017 Adweek Media Plan of the Year (Hungerithm)

2017 Effies – Gold (Hungerithm)

2017 Effies - Bronze (Hungerithm)

2017 Effies – Bronze (Hungerithm)

2016 AWARD Awards – Silver (TAC: Strings)

2016 Twitter Awards – Gold (Hungerithm)

2016 MIXX Awards – Gold (Hungerithm)

2016 Spikes Asia – Grand Prix, Media (Hungerithm)

2016 Spikes Asia – Grand Prix, Mobile (Hungerithm)

2016 Spikes Asia – Gold, Mobile/Data Insight (Hungerithm)

2016 Spikes Asia – Silver, Integrated Media (Hungerithm)

2016 Best Ads on TV – Ad of the Week (Hungerithm)

2016 Creativity Pick of the Day (Hungerithm)
2016 AWARD Awards – Bronze (TAC: Road Toll)

2016 AWARD Awards – Silver (TAC: Road Toll radio)

2016 Best Ads on TV (Melbourne Comedy Festival)

2015 Gunn Report – Top 20 Ads of 2015 (Victoria Bitter: WWI)

2015 Best Ads on TV – Ad of the Week (Victoria Bitter: WWI)

2015 Adweek – Ad of the Day (TAC: Strings)

2015 Best Ads on TV (TAC: Strings)

2015 Creativity – Pick of the Day (TAC: Strings)

2015 Spikes Asia – Silver Spike (TAC: Strings)

2015 Campaign Review (UK) – Ads of the Week (TAC: Strings)

2015 Best Ads on TV (TAC: Road Toll)

2013 AICP finalist (Google: Jess Time)

2013 Art Director's Club – Bronze (Google: Jess Time)

2013 Creativity – Pick of the Day (Google: Jess Time)

2013 AICP – shortlist, copywriting (Google: Coffee)
2011 Adweek – Ad of the Day (Microsoft)
2011 Creativity – Pick of the Day (Coke Zero: TRON)

2011 MIXX Awards – Gold (Coke Zero: TRON)
2010 Andy Awards – Silver (BooneOakley agency site)
2010 SXSW – Experimental Website of the Year (BooneOakley)

Published in Google's "Creative Canvas" book (BooneOakley)
Ad Age – Top 20 Ads on YouTube (BooneOakley)

Businessweek – 21 Ads You Won't Hate (BooneOakley)

#12 on the Viral Video Chart - just below Susan Boyle (BooneOakley)
Creativity Top 20 – 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Creativity Pick of the Day – 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Gold Addy – 2008, 2009, 2010
2007 International Young Guns Competition – Gold

VCU ADCENTER

(NOW "VCU BRANDCENTER")

Richmond, VA

Master's in Advertising / Copywriting focus

ALBION COLLEGE

(STILL "ALBION COLLEGE")

Albion, MI

Bachelor's in English / Journalism

Education

Contact