John Koay
Executive Creative Director
Hong Kong, Hong KongJohn Koay is an awarded creative director from New Zealand. His career started in Auckland as an art director, then moved to Sydney for several years, and is now currently based in Hong Kong as Creative Director at Ogilvy & Mather overlooking the creative output for the agency's key clients as well as mentoring various creative, social and studio teams in the Ogilvy group.
With nearly 10 years of experience across 3 countries, he has worked with some of the world’s most respected chief creative officers, film directors, photographers and also gained a strong understanding of different markets.
His keen interest in design, film, fashion, and embarrassingly geeky tech things are reflected in his unique style of work, integrating traditional and digital mediums into new experiential experiences.
As a result of his ability to grow business and push for creative ideas, his work as been awarded in Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, Clios, Asia Spikes, AWARD, Effies, New York Festivals, Asia Spikes, London International Award and Kam Fan.
With nearly 10 years of experience across 3 countries, he has worked with some of the world’s most respected chief creative officers, film directors, photographers and also gained a strong understanding of different markets.
His keen interest in design, film, fashion, and embarrassingly geeky tech things are reflected in his unique style of work, integrating traditional and digital mediums into new experiential experiences.
As a result of his ability to grow business and push for creative ideas, his work as been awarded in Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, Clios, Asia Spikes, AWARD, Effies, New York Festivals, Asia Spikes, London International Award and Kam Fan.
Work Experience
Edelman
Regional Executive Creative Director
March 2022
-
Hong Kong SAR of China
Ogilvy
Executive Creative Director
August 2018
-
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Ogilvy & Mather
Creative Director / Business Partner
January 2016
- July 2018
Hong Kong
Ogilvy & Mather
Creative Director
October 2013
- December 2015
Hong Kong
JWT (J. Walter Thompson)
Senior Art Director
Creative across KIT KAT, Smarties, NSW Rural Fire Service, Kelloggs brands, Johnson & Johnson brands, Bayer brands and RAC.
July 2012
- Present
Sydney, Australia
The Campaign Palace
Senior Art Director
Creative on various integrated campaigns on our key clients which included: Panasonic, Bonds, NSW Government, Selleys, Berocca, Dominos Pizza and Westpac.
March 2009
- July 2012
Sydney, Australia
Saatchi & Saatchi
Art Director
Worked across several award winning clients that included: Lexus, Toyota, Television NZ, Telecom NZ, Rodney District Council, Yellow Pages, Emirates and Sealord.
September 2006
- February 2009
Auckland, New Zealand
Colenso BBDO
Art Director
Worked on several clients that included: Air New Zealand, MINI, TV3, and Just Juice.
January 2005
- August 2005
Auckland, New Zealand
Education
Auckland University Of Technology (AUT)
Graduate Diploma in Creative Advertising
January 2004
- December 2004
Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland University Of Technology (AUT)
Bachelor of Graphic Design
January 2001
- December 2003
Auckland, New Zealand
Languages
English (Native),
Cantonese (Native),
Awards
AWARD
Silver - Outdoor
2007
The WORK
In Book
2007
The WORK
In Book
2007
D&AD
Wood Pencil
2008
The ONE Show
Merit
2008
Cannes Lions
Finalist
2008
Cannes Lions
Finalist
2008
Clio Awards
Finalist
2008
Axis Awards
Bronze
2008
London International Awards
Finalist - Outdoor
2008
The WORK
In Book
2008
The WORK
In Book
2008
The Siren Awards
Finalist
2011
New York Festivals Awards
Finalist
2011
The WORK
In Book
2012
The WORK
In Book
2012
YoungGuns Award
Finalist
2012
AWARD
Bronze - Film Campaign
2013
AWARD
Bronze - Film
2013
AWARD
Bronze - Film
2013
AWARD
Bronze - Film
2013
Clio Awards
Finalist - Radio
2013
New York Festivals Awards
Finalist - Film
2013
New York Festivals Awards
Finalist
2013
The ONE Show
Merit - Film
2013
D&AD
Wood Pencil
2013
D&AD
Wood Pencil
2013
Effie Awards - Australia
Finalist
2013
Effie Awards - Australia
Silver
2013
Adfest
Bronze - Outdoor
2014
Effie Awards - Asia Pacific
Silver - Integrated Campaign
2014
AMES
Finalist - Integrated campaign
2014
The FWA - Favorite Website Awards
Site of the Day
2014
Cannes Lions
Finalist - Promo & Activation
2014
Cannes Lions
Finalist - Press
2014
Cannes Lions
Finalist - Press
2014
Google SandBox Creative Showcase
Special featured project
2014
Spikes Asia Advertising Festival
Silver - Print
2014
Kam Fan Award
Gold (Best of Cyber)
2014
Kam Fan Award
Gold
2014
Kam Fan Award
Silver
2014
Kam Fan Award
Silver
2014
Kam Fan Award
Bronze
2014
Kam Fan Award
Bronze
2014
Effie Awards - Asia Pacific
Finalist
2015
AWARD
Bronze
2015
AWARD
Bronze
2015
Webby Awards
Nominee
2015
Webby Awards
Nominee
2015
Webby Awards
Nominee
2015
New York Festivals Awards
Finalist
2015
New York Festivals Awards
United Nations Award
2015
Effie Awards - Effie Worldwide
Silver - Innovative media
2015
Cannes Lions
Finalist
2015
Cannes Lions
Finalist
2015
Cannes Lions
Finalist
2015
Kam Fan Award
Bronze - Promo and activation
2015
Kam Fan Award
Bronze - Design
2015
Kam Fan Award
Bronze - Outdoor
2015
Kam Fan Award
Merit - Cyber
2015
Kam Fan Award
Merit - Promo and activation
2015
Kam Fan Award
Merit - Media
2015
Kam Fan Award
Merit - Design
2015
Effie Awards - Effie Worldwide
Silver
2015
Effies APAC
Finalist
2016
The ONE Show
Bronze
2016
D&AD
Wood pencil
2016
Effie Awards
Gold - (Nike HKG Womens 10k Race)
2016
Cannes Lions
Finalist - Media (Nike Air Max 95 Collectables)
2016
Spikes Asia Advertising Festival
Silver - PR (KFC Finger Lickin' Good Edible Nail Polish)
2016
Spikes Asia Advertising Festival
Bronze - Design (Nike Air Max 95 Collectables)
2016
Spikes Asia Advertising Festival
Shortlist - Promo & Activation (KFC Finger Lickin' Good Edible Nail Polish)
2016
Spikes Asia Advertising Festival
Shortlist - PR (KFC Finger Lickin' Good Edible Nail Polish)
2016
Spikes Asia Advertising Festival
Shortlist - Media (Nike Air Max 95 Colletables)
2016
Echo Awards
Bronze
2016
Transform Awards
Gold
2016
The WORK
In Book
2016
Kam Fan Awards
Grand Prix - Integrated
2016
Kam Fan Awards
Gold - Integrated
2016
Kam Fan Awards
Silver - Design (Promotional items)
2016
Kam Fan Awards
Silver - Media (Best use of social media)
2016
Kam Fan Awards
Bronze - Media (Best integrated media campaign)
2016
Kam Fan Awards
Merit - Social
2016
Kam Fan Awards
Merit - Promo and Activation
2016
Kam Fan Awards
Client of the Year - KFC
2016
Asia Pacific Advertising Festival (AP AdFest)
Silver Lotus - Promo
2017
Asia Pacific Advertising Festival (AP AdFest)
Bronze Lotus - Media
2017
Asia Pacific Advertising Festival (AP AdFest)
Bronze Lotus - Direct
2017