A psychology graduate, John learnt his trade as a copywriter at leading UK agencies Boase Massimi Pollitt (now DDB), Collett Dickenson Pearce, and Gold Greenless Trott (now TBWA), joining Saatchi & Saatchi as a Creative Group Head in 1988. 

He was a Creative Director/Executive Creative Director in the London office for 7 years, before taking the role of Regional Creative Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa in 2003, in which he is responsible for driving creativity across 57 offices in 37 countries. He chairs the EMEA Creative Board and sits on World Wide Creative Board.

One of Saatchi's most highly awarded creatives, he has won awards in most international festivals - including D&AD Gold and Silvers, Cannes Gold and Silver Lions, and Grand Prix, Gold, Silver, and Hall of Fame at the New York One Show – as well as many local awards.

Under his leadership, the region has steadily improved, now delivering a healthy proportion of the network’s annual awards.

John has served on the D&AD Executive Committee, as well as most of the D&AD juries, the Cannes Lion Press jury, Clio Film jury, LIA Non Traditional Jury and Dubai Lynx.  He has also been Jury President of the East European Golden Drum and Golden Hammer festivals, the Romanian Ad’Or festival and the Irish Kinsale Sharks.

He is a pioneer of Saatchi’s unique fast track, multi-disciplinary creative development process, the Tribe, and also of Ideas Academy, an innovative creative training workshop, incorporating improvisation and storytelling games and exercises.