I think conceptually. Which you would expect.
I think strategically. Which keeps me honest. Well, at least “advertising honest.”
I think executionally. Which prevents a lot of hair-pulling when it comes to production.
Having been a copywriter, group creative director and executive creative director at major agencies, I know how this gig works.
I’ve seen it all and done most of it.
I love Art Directors and I’ve worked with some amazing ones.
They make my great ideas appear brilliant, my good ideas appear great and my bad ideas appear less often.
Wherever possible I sing the praises of each Art Director, except those in the witness protection program.
My agency experience includes full-time at FCB, Vickers & Benson, McCann-Erickson and DDB as well as countless freelance projects at countless agencies. BBDO, JWT, Y&R and FCB certainly do count.
My writing has subtly strong-armed Canadians to throw money at items as local as asparagus (Foodland Ontario) and chardonnay (Trius) and as far-flung as Kia cars and Bermuda vacations.
Here is a partial list of accounts from my checkered career:
Air Miles
American Express Gold Card
Bacardi
Bayer
Bermuda Tourism
Bayer
Birks
BMO
Bridgestone Tires
British Airways
Bud Lite
California Raisin Board
Canada Life
CANFAR
CCG Data
Choice Hotels
CIBC
CN
Christie Brown
Cogeco
Colgate
Coors
Del Monte
Evian
Fisherman’s Friend
Foodland Ontario
Ford
Freedom 55 Financial
Harlequin
Harry Rosen
Helene Curtis
Hershey
Hillebrand Wines
Hiram Walker
H. J. Heinz
Investors Group
Jergens
Johnson & Johnson
Kia Motors Canada
Kimberly-Clark
Kraft
Labatt
Lincoln
Lufthansa
Mastercard
Mennen
Mercedes-Benz
Michelin
Moreau Wines
Minute Maid
National Car Rental
Nescafé
OLG
Ontario Ministry of Health
Oshawa Centre
Panasonic
Parmalat
Peller Wines
Pfizer
Quaker
RBC
Red Lobster
Renascent Centres
Robin Hood Multifoods
Robertson & Robertson Yacht Insurance
Rogers
Sandoz
Scotts Lawn Care Products
S. C. Johnson
Sears
Shaw
Smart Car
Strongbow Cider
Sunkist
Stanley Park Brewery
Starbucks
Tetley Tea
Tip Top Tailors
United Way of Niagara
Upper Canada Mall
Visa
Weetabix
Zurich Insurance.

I'm happy to add to this list at any time. Alphabetically, I'm still missing "G" and "X."