Jonathan Santana Email & Phone Number

Currently Executive Creative Director at Johannes Leonardo, leading the agency’s creative department, nurturing an inclusive and winning culture that champions the power of strategic insight and creativity. I also continue to oversee the success of the agency’s largest account, Volkswagen. Writing a new chapter in the advertising lore of the brand. Recently having led the agency to their first Super Bowl commercial, and 10 years since Volkswagen’s last, it ranked as the most effective ad on the night, +394% surge in site traffic, and was given 5 stars by AdAge.From Johannesburg, Paris, London, Amsterdam and New York, and a career spanning 25 years, I've led and worked on brands like Stella Artois, Ikea, Guinness, Honda, Absolut, Generals Motors, Toyota, and many more. I've launched global campaigns, local campaigns, made Super Bowl commercials, created live experiential installations, and even a 12ft permanent art work.
I've created the world’s first ever solar powered billboard that gave power to the people, winning a Cannes Grand Prix. That year I also won Cannes Gold for an out of home campaign for an iconic chip snack. I've written a children’s book that helped children who suffered abuse, with all proceeds going to Childline.My work contributed to TBWA Paris winning Cannes Lions Agency of the year for a 4th year running.I've led the Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors’ Showcase at Cannes for three years running, creating a live drone show, another world first. It also allowed me to collaborate with Professor Richard Dawkins on the origin of the meme for a full on visual overload cultural experiment, as well as collaboratign with Warp Record Artists, Jamie Lidell, Clark, and Oneohtrix Point Never.I worked at Mother London and New York office, where I led Stella Artois to its first ever global campaign running across 20 countries. Created a successful Super Bowl commercial that brought back iconic characters Carrie Bradshaw and The Dude, Jeff Lebowski that convinced drinkers to change up their usual for a good cause. I also spent a brief stint at Lucky Generals where I helped establish the successful London based agency here in the US.Over the years, I have been featured by the likes of Dazed, Vice, Creative Review, Wired, Forbes, It’s Nice That, The Guardian and Huffington Post, and my work has been recognized by local and international award shows from Cannes Lions festival, to D&AD, Clio, The One Show, the ADC, and many others.

Listed skills include Leadership, Tourism, Brand Activation, Creative Campaign Development, and 20 others.

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  University Of Johannesburg

  Graphic Design & Advertising