Boomtown

“The challenge of this industry keeps me hooked. There are always so many odds stacked against marketing success, against a big idea seeing the light of day…and added to that it’s about young, creative, energetic people. Where else do you find that combination?”

Neil is our Chief. He sits in his office all day just waiting for the next person to interrupt him. Once all the interruptions are over (about 5pm) he does a little bit of work. As a kid he used to collect birds’ eggs until his little sister showed her friends how nicely they crunched. These days he sticks to Bonsais. Open his garage and you will probably find bicycles galore.

“I love people. I love the eternal quest to better understand what makes people tick (and tock). How we react to rational thought and emotional experiences.”

Wayne is the guy with the small task of marshalling Boomtown’s left- and right-brained talent to deliver beautiful, thought-provoking and heart-felt campaigns (on time and within budget). While studying Mechanical Engineering, Wayne was enticed to the world of advertising by good coffee and interesting people. This humorous, adventurous spirit reckons that ideas are only as good as their size (no pressure). Open his garage and you will find many a motorbike.

“Being part of Boomtown is being part of an ideas factory that keeps you engaged.”

Mnce is a pro at the priceless strategic art of helping customers grow their businesses. This father of three collects watches, loves motor sport, travel, gym and life in general. His sky-high level of education is testimony to his motto that anything is possible. Even though he’s already achieved more than most, he still reckons, “There’s a whole life ahead of you – live it!” Open his garage and you will find a ride as hot as his business acumen.

“We have the ability to alter perceptions and change consumer habits through creativity and business solutions. Creativity is a given in our industry. Methodology is what makes it consistently brilliant.”

Glen has equal pocketfuls of strategy and creativity in his summery board shorts. Don’t be fooled by his laid back demeanor – he is sharper than shark teeth. He ensures that we work smart and improve efficiencies. Strategically, he ensures that we touch consumers emotionally, build consistent brands and achieve the best value and effectiveness for our clients’ spend. Open his garage and, besides his surfboard, you will probably find a pile of pens from other people’s desks.

“The magic of my job is the ability to create something out of nothing.”

This man is proof that dynamite comes in small packages. Every day he zips around and spins a web of creative magic. Apparently he likes to tie small insect imitations made from feathers onto pieces of line and try to catch wily trout. Open his garage and you will probably find his car (because he runs everywhere).

“I love the brands I work on and the opportunity I have to do great stuff for them. I’m like a ‘brand broker’ – I aim to grow brand value and direct all marketing communications to impact the client’s bottom line.”

Kenny is a centered surfer with equal heaps of strategy and creativity in his good-as-gold heart. He heads up the client service teams and looks after our clients’ needs. His huge collection of cool product packaging is testimony to his genuine love of brands. A man of few words, he means what he says and says what he means. Open his garage and you might find crates of bottled Coca-Cola.

“I thrive on the continuous quest to make something out of nothing and the opportunity to deliver great work that truly benefits our clients.

Luvs is from our strategic left half. This multi-talented man coordinates the client service department of the agency and delivers incredible creative work to our clients through the various teams. His treasures include his sparkling personality which is almost as shiny as his trendy shoes. Open his garage and you might find towers of car magazines and a set of golf clubs.

“The fact that I wake up every morning happy to be part of the growing Boomtown family tells me I work at the right place.”

The ever-patient logically brained Shaun is our hard-working financial guru. He uses his rugby muscles to rein in the spending and ensure that we always stay on budget. He’s a solid guy who commands a great deal of respect (even more so when he has pay slips in his hand). Open his garage and you will probably find plenty of protein shakes, golf clubs and a rugby ball or two.

“The multi-faceted nature of my role keeps things interesting. Each day is different with new challenges. I love meeting and working with people from all walks of life and a variety of industries.”

Sam’s job could probably be likened to a strategic juggling act. She keeps the ball in the air by constantly meeting the demands of a multitude of audiences both internally and externally. In her spare time she collects shoes and runs half marathons. Open her garage and you will probably find empty shoeboxes and her suave black Polo.

“The media landscape is forever changing and working to create the best strategy is challenging on a daily basis.”

Contrary to popular belief, Paige didn’t change her name to suit her career. She strategises, plans and books media to hit clients’ target markets right between the eyes. She likes to follow Dr. Seuss’s theory that those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind”. Open her garage and you will probably be met by two hyperactive, adorable monsters posing as Jack Russels.

“No two days or projects are ever the same. I am kept on my toes by the challenge of creating the best possible solutions within deadlines that are tighter than skinny jeans after a gymless winter.”

Apart from contributing to a large portion of KFC’s income, Bry oversees the production of all agency printed material. By liaising with various suppliers, she ensures the delivery of high quality finished products within the allocated budget and deadline. Open her garage and you will probably find all her colleagues’ stationery (that she allegedly pilfers while pretending to work overtime).

“I am privileged to be involved in some really cool projects. When clients are ecstatic about what you present, it makes all the effort worthwhile.”

Jared’s strategic approach to life and his job is punctuated by sporadic bright explosions of creativity. He confidently guides clients’ brands in the right direction, providing them with the tools to achieve their goals. On top of that, he ensures clients always have what they need, and more. He has a passion for classic novels because, there’s something about all that free thought sitting together on a shelf for you”. Open his garage and you will probably find a fine collection of Chardonnay.

“Everyday I get to learn and engage with various people that help me grow in my career.”

You could say that Delia is a creatively logical jack-of-all-trades, but more specifically, she oversees the operations for Boomtown Joburg. She’s known for her Joburg pace, extreme efficiency and organisational skills that would rival those of a royal wedding planner. Like any girl, she knows the benefits of retail therapy and chilling out to good music. Open her garage and you will probably find a secret organisationional skills training organisation.

“Seeing briefs develop into so much more than anyone could have imagined is priceless. I love seeing the end result after all the blood, sweat and tears.”

Annelise is the strict one who makes sure all the work gets done on time every time. She encourages when people are doubtful, chases them when they are slow and plans the dreamy creatives’ diaries. She ensures that each designer is equipped with all the necessary tools to make magic. Annelise is the middleman. Open her garage and you will probably find a big bakkie and some potjiekos competition trophies.

“I sift through all the data, reams of information and stories, to find patterns and construct something that didn’t exist before – a synthesis, a cohesive research project or output.”

Lesley, our in-house guru of sociology, forms an integral part of our strategic team. This passionately curious mind seems to have studied everything, including an undergrad degree majoring in Psych and Sociology, a double honours in Psychology and Group Dynamics, and a Masters Degree in Sociology. As if that is not enough, she is now a doctoral candidate for a PHD in sociology. Open her garage and you will find books, books and more books.