John has worked in some of the world’s biggest agencies, like Y&R and Leo Burnett, in some of the world’s best places, like Dublin, London, Sydney and San Francisco. Then one day he decided to start his own, right there from the front room of his house. The first year he just managed to pay the bills, the second year Happy Soldiers was named ‘Hotshop of the Year’, and again the year after that. Within four years it was the ‘Number 1 Independent Agency in Australia’ in the Gunn report.
It took out the ‘Idea of the Year’ for two years running. And won countless awards from Cannes, D&AD, Clios and Grand Effies.
In 2013 John returned home to Dublin. He co-founded Idea Gallery, a creative innovation company that has created start-ups from category changing ideas. He’s a co-founder of Little Flowers, Scrumdiddly’s and Pooter.
He continues to work around the world on projects for ad agencies and innovation companies, like Havas, Naked and Y&R. He's happy to create a new campaign or even a new product. He can direct creative. And also create the direction.
He believes creative can influence the strategy as much as strategy can influence the creative. His real strength is as a Creative Strategist. With a background in art direction and design he is as passionate about the execution as the idea. He’s also written scripts, books and bad birthday cards.