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Gary Johnston

Gary Johnston CD/Art Director/Writer

“Award winning creative returns from US”

After leaving Australia in the 80’s Johnston found himself working
on the launch of Apple Computers at Chiat/Day Los Angeles. Little
did he know back then he was on a career path to work at some of
the best agencies in the world; BBD&O, Ammirati/Puris/Lintas and
Chiat/Day New York, to name a few. He was blown away by the size
of the budgets, the work ethic and the talent he had to work with.

Looking for more experience at the pointy end he landed a job in
Hong Kong at Dentsu/Y&R. After two years, and just before the
handover to the Chinese, he decided to head back to New York
with his family. Back in the Big Apple he was lucky enough to work
on the launch of Crystal Pepsi at BBD&O and create a campaign
that was launched during the upcoming Superbowl.

Cars have always been a passion of his and after working on
Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, he jumped at the chance to work
on Daimler-Chrysler and Jeep at FCB Worldwide in Detroit.
Launching the PT Cruiser to the world was a dream come true,
especially for a dedicated gear-head like himself. Johnston says the PT Cruiser was ahead of its time as it was launched with only a D/P/S of the car with the URL of the website as its headline.

Then in the summer of 2001, while shooting a campaign in
Australia for the European launch of the Chrysler Voyager Mini-
Van, he decided right then to return to Australia. For a lifestyle
change he headed north to a boutique ad agency in Cairns. Here,
he handled national advertising campaigns for 28 Stockland
Shopping Centres around Australia.

He’s worked on budgets the size of a small country’s GDP to shooting
TVC’s on a shoestring, Johnston said they are all invaluable experiences in the pursuit of creating great ideas.

A W A R D S
Over 100 International and Australian Awards
AWARD, Clios, New York One Show, New York Art Directors,
The Beldings LA, Addys, Art Directors Club of Los Angeles,
Communication Arts, Hong Kong Art Directors Club, Caddy
Awards Detroit, Best of New York Awards, New York Festivals,
AAF Best In The West, Hollywood Radio and Television
International Broadcasting Awards, The Effies, David Ogilvy
Award, and QLD Media Awards

March 2008- to present
Freelance Creative Director, Sydney
Pitched and won a major Telco account for Grey in Vietnam
Clients include Sunrice for Behind The Line plus other small to medium accounts

May2007 – January 2008
Creative Director
Workhouse Advertising, Perth
_ QBE Insurance, Retravision, Port Bouvard, Perth Racing,
Somerly, Highbury Park and Pindan.

January 2004 – March 2007
Creative Director
Adpower Plus, Cairns
_ Stockland Corporate/ Stockland Shopping Centres
Pacific Toyota (Australia’s largest Toyota dealership),
Great Adventure Cruises, Property Development Companies,
Cairns Post, TTNQ (Great Tropical Drive), Cairns Taipans

December 2002 – August 2003
Freelance/Creative Director
FCB WORLDWIDE. Chicago
_ Boeing Aircraft – Corporate & Consumer

Febuary1998 – October 2002
Creative Director
DaimlerChrysler Global Corporate
FCB WORLDWIDE, Detroit.
_ Created and managed worldwide campaigns for Chrysler brands
_ CD on DaimlerChrysler Corporate and Chrysler / Jeep Global
_ Art Directed campaigns for Chrysler brand and PT Cruiser launch

October1993 – November1997
Senior Vice President, Creative Director.
AMMIRATI/PURIS/LINTAS, New York.
_ Accounts included Johnson & Johnson, UPS, Burger King
and Bacardi

April1992 – September1993
Senior Vice President, Associate Creative Director.
BBDO, New York.
_ Accounts included Pepsi (Pepsi International and Crystal Pepsi)
_ Launched Crystal Pepsi across the US

January1990 – April 1992
Executive Creative Director.
DENTSU Y & R Hong Kong.
_ Accounts included Hong Kong Tourist Association, Mercedes-
Benz, Japan Airlines, AT&T, Remy Martin, Yacult, Hong Kong
Telecom, SONY

Febuary1983 – December1986 / January1988 – October1990
Senior Art Director / Senior Art Director.
CHIAT / DAY, Los Angeles and New York.
_ Worked on the launch of Apple Computers
_ Other accounts included Royal Caribbean and Pizza Hut
_ Worked on successful pitch for Porsche Cars of America and
New York Life

June1981 – January1983
Art Director.
Ogilvy & Mather, Sydney.
_ Mercedes-Benz, 3M, American Express, Maxwell House,
Sussan, General Foods, P&O and Johnson & Johnson

Contact details: 0405 043 551

Freshwater-Sydney 2096

Gary Johnston

Interested?

0405043551

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