I’m Alan Grové, a problem-solving creative writer and thinker with demonstrable experience of succesfiul brnad creation, implementation, and activation across all touchpoints and media channels. Aprovem team builder, team leader, and collaborator with clients, up to and including c-suite and founders. Not just interested in what brands say to people, rather fascinated with how brands make people feel.
Core Skills:
- Conceptual thinking, writing, and execution that brings brnads and brand strategy to life
- Building Tone of Voice frameworks for brand consistency across all touchpoints
- Extensive experience of presenting to clients, up to and including c-suite and founders
- Managing multiple creative projects and teams simulltaneously
- Building, managing and working with teams that are happy and productive
- Fostering collaborative relationships with peers and clients
- Mentoring junior creatives
- Making decisions and taking repsonsibility for them
If you need a senior creative team, the majority of advertising work on this site was done with my Art Director, Andrew Gardiner.
AGC / Alan Grove Creative Ltd
Creative Director/ Creative Brand Consultant
I work with agencies and directly with clients on creatively driven projects that range from copywriting to conceiving and overseeing production of campaigns. As a brand consultant I offer brand creation and positioning, including brand workshops, naming, identity and tone of voice. Clients include Five Guys, Zoggs, Xterra Offroad Triathlon, Mölnlycke Medical, Cakehead, Autodesk, Intel, Mailchimp, and HPE.
Mediablaze / iCrossing
Head of Brand and Creative
I led the branding and design team at iCrossing (formerly Mediablaze until a merger in mid-2021), a Hearst Publishing- owned digital agency with UK offices in London, Brighton and Cardiff. As an agency we helped brands to not just keep up with digital change, but get ahead of it. This took the form of developing digital-first brands from start-up (naming, positioning, visual identity and language) to creating content for brands that were already established. Clients included Five Guys, Amazon, Speedo, Shiseido and Volvo amongst others as well as start-ups such as Alpian, Kin, Malverleys Gardens and Farm and W3 Club.
Freelance
Writer/ Creative Director/ Creative Brand Consultant
I worked in a freelance capacity for numerous agencies in London and Europe on clients including BA, Vodafone and National Trust as well as working directly with clients such as Five Guys, Cakehead and Zoggs on projects ranging from branding, brand strategy, tone of voice and copywriting to advertising and marketing campaigns.
Will London
Creative Partner
I co-founded Will as an agency that transforms brands. I was responsible for building the creative department and led all creative output from concept to production (in traditional media, digital and social) on brands such as Slendertone, Five Guys, Krispy Kreme, Zoggs, Genes Reunited, Screwfix, Make It Cheaper, Liquid Telecom and more.
Addiction LDN / NY
Creative Director
I joined Addiction to lead a pitch for the global Remington Hair Care account, which we won. I subsequently built and led the creative departments in both London and New York on brands such as Remington, A+E Networks, Krispy Kreme, B&Q, Isme, Chupa-Chups, Adidas and more.
Freelance
Writer/ Creative Director
I worked in a freelance capacity for numerous agencies in London as well as direct with clients including Monarch Airlines, Cape Yamu Villas, HSBC Private Banking and more.
Haygarth (London)
Deputy Creative Director
I was one of two Deputy Creative Heads in the UK’s largest independent integrated agency, overseeing a creative department of up to twenty people. Work included advertising, experiential and digital on brands such as Nokia, Nando's, Gillette, Dairy Crest, 118-118, Premier Foods and more.
Tugboat Agency (London)
Senior Copywriter – Creative Director
I started as Senior Copywriter and in time became Creative Director of this independent agency. Work included clients such as Autoglass, Nando's, Pret A Manger, Honda Motorcycles, Wolf Blass, MTV, New Zealand Lamb, Kangaroo Poo and International Fund for Animal Welfare. Highlights included writing the copy for the first Pret a Manger sandwich boxes and campaigning for a pedestrian fast lane on Oxford Street.
McCann Erickson Europe/ Worldwide (London)
Head Copywriter
Hunt Lascaris TBWA (Cape Town)
Senior Copywriter
Net#work BBDO (Cape Town/ Johannesburg)
Copywriter
The White House DDB (Cape Town)
Copywriter
Education
University of Cape Town
Bachelor of Arts (English and History, with a year of Fine Art)
Bryanston High School (Johannesburg)
Matric with full University Exemption
“If you are looking for lightning in a bottle, look no further. Alan has the rare ability to develop both insightful strategy and creative ideas that sell.”
Paul Hamilton
CMO, Five Guys Uk & Europe
“This brand is absolutely a perfect reflection of what we are trying to achieve with Alpian. It is pretty rare that design aesthetics meet the standards I set, but this logo does. Simple, elegant, clean , and meaningful.”
Schuyler Weiss
CEO, Alpian Digital Bank
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Alan across three different brands over the past 15 years. His ability to translate insight into relevant, compelling, and impactful creative solutions is why I continue to partner with him time and again.
Alan delivers powerful ideas that drive engaging campaigns and real results. I would highly recommend him — no notes..”
Charlotte Thomas
International Head of Brand & Marketing, Zoggs