Independent brand strategist, with a strong 20+ year record of writing and leading award-winning, effective work, across a range of categories and channels. Helped launch, build and reinvent some of the world’s best brands; including Apple, Bacardi, Bing, EA, GE, Gillette, Grey Goose, Guinness, Halifax, Holiday Inn Express, HSBC, Perfect Day, Radisson, SAP, ServiceNow, Vodafone and Wells Fargo.

Developed work that's been recognized for its effectiveness by the IPA and Effies. Developed work that's been recognized for its strategic thinking by the Jay Chiats and ARF. Developed work that's been recognized for its cultural impact by the MoMA, Emmys and TED. And developed work that’s been recognized for its creativity by The One Show, Cannes Lions, D&AD and others.

Strong international perspective gained living and working in Dublin, Sheffield, London, Istanbul, New York, San Francisco and LA. Built and led high impact teams of local, regional and global planners. And held senior training and mentorship roles in every position up to Group Director, Brand Strategy at Apple. Currently helping agency, start-up and marketing leaders to find, tell and manage their brands’ true stories.

RIG·OR

noun. Extremely thorough, exhaustive or accurate.

"Gordon is simply one of the best strategic and creative thinkers I've worked with. His briefs made my job fun. They were rich with original and insightful thinking, which is the kind of inspiration that creatives dream of (and rarely get). He is clearly passionate about what he does. I've seen him dig and dig and dig into research and do his own as well, all in the quest to position a company or product in a way that means something to real people."

Natalie Kaufman, Creative Director, JWT New York

"Gordon is very smart. He is lucky to have analytical skills and creative imagination in equal measure. He excels, in particular, at articulating a brand's challenge or opportunity in a way that brings it into focus vividly for people. And on top of all that Gordon is extremely easy to work with."

Rachel Rodgers, Planning Director, JWT New York

"A more thoughtful, impassioned and creative thinker would be very hard to find. Gordon ran planning for teamHSBC in the US, and consistently took insights that were parity at best (banking is not known for highly differentiated brands) and found the nugget of truth that HSBC could uniquely exploit. Gordon has no time for mediocrity and holds himself to a standard that most of us could only hope to emulate."

Bret Sanford-Chung, General Manager, teamHSBC

RICH·NESS

noun. The quality of being pleasingly deep or strong.

"Gordon's experiences and his rare talent for the interesting make him a citizen of the world. Working alongside him on Gillette in global markets, you come to appreciate his heart for brands. A big one at that. Terrifyingly insightful, he paints possibilities for a brand that makes you take a deep breath before the ride. Every brief is an experience and a journey you want to be on."

Paul Vinod, Executive Creative Director, BBDO New York

"Raconteur, debater, instigator, anthropologist, artist, analyst, leader, navigator, provocateur, psychologist, traveller, night -owl, photographer, storyteller. Gordon likes to explore the big meanings of small things. Whether it's how people feel about money or the merits of thin crust pizza, he has an uncanny ability to consider aspects of our world with intelligence and humor and tease out the wider significance in the minutiae of the mundane. Gordon is an absolute pleasure to work with and will be an incredible asset to any team." 

Dinesh Brij Kapoor, Creative Director, JWT 

"Gordon is undoubtedly one of the best planners I have ever worked with. As well as being an intellectual 'big thinker' he's very down to earth and can deliver insights that will connect to the human beings we're communicating with and that always inspire creative teams."

Nigel Edginton-Vigus, Creative Director, JWT London

RE·DUC·TION

noun. Presenting something complicated in a simple way.

"For a creative, finding real insight in a creative brief – one that inspires a team to a Big Idea – is hard to come by. When I worked with Gordon, it was the norm. He is one of the most resourceful planners I know. No matter what his source of information, Gordon pushes to deliver something unique. Sometimes it is something incredibly simple. And that takes guts, to say what really motivates an audience, rather than complicated planner thinking.

Scott Lewis, Executive Creative Director, JWT New York

"Gordon combines high intellect and creativity with the strong forward thinking of a great brand planner. He has a unique way of distilling complexity and turning it into inspiring insights. He’s detailed, original, with a thirst for culture and a passion for advertising like no other."

Kostas Karanikolas, Executive Creative Director, CP+B