Glenn Jameson

Born in Waiouru to an archconservative army officer and an anti-conservative nurse; it was like being tucked into bed at night by Patton and Fonda. Got a crew cut, packed my teddy and was posted to Malaysia while Dad flew Cobra gunships around Vietnam. Won the Art prize and the English prize at school. Won a top-shelf balsa wood glider at the slug gun gallery at the Easter Show, but turned down a weapons-based tertiary education and opted for art school. Dad was gutted.

Graduated and rose quickly through the ranks at Saatchi's Auckland working on some nice blue chips, then left for London. Tossed the reel, burnt the book and completed the rigorous D&AD Ad School, landing a job at Lowe Howard-Spink. Worked in the office next to exalted CDs Hoggins and O’Shea and even got to talk to them once. Squeezed a Heineken poster out them featuring Dali and a goldfish before joining Beber Silverstein McCabe in the sunnier and less bureaucratic climate of Miami. Promoted to partner the infamous Hall-of-Famer, Ed McCabe, until he tired of his cigarette boat and bailed with a bloody nice tan and all the good accounts. After three years of summer, needed some snow. Moved to New York, Greys, where the briefs were shite but the pizza was super supreme.

Returned to Auckland as Joint CD at Walkers. Launched BellSouth, rewired the short-circuiting Philips brand and picked up more finalists than any other agency in NZ.  Didn’t win a sausage. Took up a senior role at the legendary office of Colenso Wellington – and struck a gold mine. Picked up tonnes of metal here and abroad, won lots of pitches, had two daughters (Dad was gutted), and after six years on government accounts, needed a beer. Joined the Budweiser group at DDB Chicago as a CD, developed the follow-ups to the “Whassup?” campaign, won the coveted Oscar Polls with “The Jersey Guys”, picked up gold and Best of Show, watched The Twin Towers collapse and decided it was time to settle down in a country the terrorists hadn’t heard of yet.

Back in Auckland again. Made a groundbreaking 68-spot campaign at FCB for an Aussie instant coffee (Rove spent an entire opening monologue taking the piss out of it – made the company millions), won a bunch of pitches, got a divorce (Mum was thrilled), and ruled benevolently over the Republik creative department.

Been putting out fires all my career. Now I want to start some. Got a match?