On the strength of Dove, Ogilvy’s dynamic duo of Janet Kestin and Nancy Vonk shoot up to the number two position this year, but it is the boys of Rethink who reclaim the Top Creative Director spot (Taxi’s ex-ECD Zak Mroueh was the 2007 champ), thanks in part to their work on Playland. Rounding out the pack is DDB’s Andrew Simon, who jumps to third from seventh position last year.
More questions for Rethink’s Chris Staples and Ian Grais
Chris Staples
Years in advertising: 24
Big clients: A&W, B.C. Lions, Bell, Coast Capital Savings, Playland, Sobey’s
Genius campaign of 2007 (here or abroad)?
Here: Dove (duh). Abroad: Apple’s ‘I’m a Mac, I’m a PC.’ Charming and cut-throat at the same time.
What was your first job in advertising? What did it teach you?
Francis, Williams and Johnson in Edmonton. Never do work for political parties. I had to work on Don Getty’s campaign for premier. I still feel dirty.
How do you stay creative?
How could you not? There’s never been more cool stuff going on – in both old media and new.
How do you work through a creative block?
Just do it.
***
Ian Grais
Years in advertising: 16
Big clients: See Chris Staples, above
Which of your campaigns are you most proud of?
It’s nice to see so many awards for our work for Playland. This is the 11th time I’ve worked on this brief.
Weirdest muse/insight/source for any creative you worked on this year?
The latest concept (just executed) for the Contemporary Art Gallery in Vancouver called Community Art Grid. After completion I found this idea written down in a 12-year-old sketch book that I hadn’t looked at in years.
How do you stay creative?
We are located in B.C., don’t forget.
How do you work through a creative block?
What’s a creative block?
***
Runners-up
Nancy Vonk/Janet Kestin, Ogilvy & Mather
Years in advertising: 27/23
Big clients: Dove, Timex, Nestle (Rolo, Laura Secord), Becel, Imperial, Kraft, Bick’s, Mattel, Hellmann’s/Dove, Amex, IBM, Mattel, Smuckers
Nancy
What is your most coveted award?
One Show Gold Pencil. Best body of work.
Are you a good mentor?
Yes. The secret is giving a shit.
How do you work through a creative block?
Nothing beats Tom Monahan’s book The Do It Yourself Lobotomy: Open Your Mind to Greater Creative Thinking.
Janet
First job in advertising?
Writing retail copy.
What did you learn?
To limit adjectives.
Work you are most looking forward to this year?
The Dove play should be the most ground-breaking, and hopefully galvanizing, thing we’ve done.
***
Andrew Simon, DDB Canada
Years in advertising: 17
Big clients: Blockbuster, Canadian Blood Services, Capital One, Imperial Oil, J&J, Kraft, Philips, Subaru, Unilever, Wrigley’s
First job in advertising?
Working at JWT in New York. To this day, one of my most prized possessions is a letter thanking me for my work on a PSA for Debbie Gibson.
Secret to your success?
Working with amazing people. And the steroids. Thank God for the steroids.
***
Top scores
1. Chris Staples/Ian Grais, Rethink 343
2. Janet Kestin/Nancy Vonk, Ogilvy & Mather 205
3. Andrew Simon, DDB Canada 191
4. Zak Mroueh, (formerly of) Taxi 168
5. Jack Neary, BBDO 119
6. Ian MacKellar, BBDO 114
7. Alan Russell, DDB Canada 105
8. Stephen Jurisic, John St. 78
9. Angus Tucker, John St. 76
10. Ron Smrczek, Taxi 69
11. Daniel Vendramin, Cossette 67
11. Darren Clarke, Cossette 67
13. Martin Shewchuk, JWT 57
14. Christina Yu, Lowe Roche 52
15. Philippe Meunier, Sid Lee 51
16. Don Saynor, JWT 48
17. Martin Beauvais, Zig 45
18. Luc Du Sault, Lg2 44
19. Patrick Doyle, Trigger Communications 43
20. Gaetan Namouric, Bleublancrouge 42
20. Stephane Charier, Taxi 42
***
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Introduction
