Tony Stern
Los Angeles,CA
Summary
Passionate about brands, culture, people, and relationships. Strategically-minded, data-informed, and insightful creative leader with 20+ years of experience at some of the country’s top creative companies and agencies. Award-winning Executive Creative Director / Creative Strategist with proven ability to make the work and drive teams of Copywriters, Art Directors, Designers, other specialists and Account Managers to maintain and grow established accounts, create new business opportunities and lead strategy for traditional/digital/social media and emerging platforms to drive business growth.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Creative Director | Brand & Content Strategy Leader | Creative Consultant
Huddle
01.2020 - Current
- Company Overview: Creative Consultancy
- Led creative strategy and execution for global campaigns across digital, social, and traditional media
- Advised agencies and brands, securing 4 global brand wins in 2023 & 2024 through strategic pitching
- Served as in-house creative director and brand architect for Starbucks, driving Ready-to-Drink (RTD) marketing initiatives
- Creative Consultancy
Global Head of Creative | Executive Creative Director
9thWonder
01.2017 - 01.2020
- Managed 7 offices & 40+ creatives (Writers, Designers, Strategists, Social & Experiential Specialists)
- Oversaw brand identity & creative direction for 31+ brands, including Whole Foods, McDonald’s, LAX, Fiji Tourism, Phillips 66, and Public Storage
- Created the brand identity for 9thWonder, including naming, logo, mission, and values, growing the creative team from 6 to 40+ people
- Phillips 66 B2B campaign generated $206M+ in revenue, exceeding campaign goals by 555%
- Tourism Fiji campaign drove a 20% increase in visitor arrivals and a 17% rise in paid room nights
- Natrol Supplements campaign increased YOY sales by 24%, reaching 200M+ impressions
Creative Director | Writer | Brand Consultant
01.2014 - 01.2017
- Conceptualized campaign that won McDonald’s $2B global account for DDB Chicago
- Led creative that secured Honda Motors’ account for Rubin Postaer & Associates
- Managed global Apple iPad Air launch, overseeing 21-city production across 4 continents
- Developed content strategies for Google, Microsoft, Samsung, Verizon, JP Morgan, and AFL-CIO
- Co-developed Michelle Obama’s personal social initiative, including branding, naming, and logo design
Executive Creative Director
Publicis NY
01.2011 - 01.2013
- Led all creative teams and content development for Nestlé brands
- Drove Nestlé’s $8.6B revenue growth (+10.4%) through strategic creative leadership
- Developed and implemented Nestlé’s 100-day global vision strategy
- Led new business pitches for LG and Groupon, both wins
Global Creative Director
J. Walter Thompson NY
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Developed creative vision and led teams behind award-winning campaigns for Diageo brands
- Led Smirnoff’s largest global initiative, driving 8% YOY growth and transforming it into a global movement
Associate Creative Director
Goodby Silverstein & Partners
01.2005 - 01.2009
- Spearheaded integrated content and brand voice for Saturn, Rolling Rock, Comcast, Hyundai, Discover Card, and Adobe
- Rolling Rock campaign reversed sales decline from -4.2% to +10.7% and set YouTube engagement records
- Hyundai Assurance campaign led to 14% YOY growth, making Hyundai the only U.S
- Car brand growing during the recession
Associate Creative Director
David & Goliath
01.2002 - 01.2005
- Created broadcast, print, and digital campaigns for Kia Motors, Outback Steakhouse, Bacardi, and other brands
- Bacardi & Cola campaign drove an unprecedented 41% increase in ‘call growth’ at bars nationwide
- Kia Optima campaign led to a 12% spike in sales and a 19% increase in test drives
Education
Postgraduate Diploma - Advertising
The Creative Circus
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
University of Georgia
Skills
- Brand Strategy & Positioning
- Digital & Social Media Marketing
- Performance Marketing & Analytics
- UX/UI & Customer Experience (CX)
- Integrated & Multichannel Campaigns
- Creative Leadership & Team Building
- Content Development & Storytelling
- Growth Marketing & Paid Media
- New Business Development & Revenue Growth
- Strategic thinking
- Creative vision
- Team management
- Visual storytelling
- Content strategy
- Campaign planning
Websites
Personal Information
Title: Executive Creative Director | Brand & Content Strategy Leader
Awards
www.tonystern.com/about, Visit for a full list of industry awards & recognitions.
Client Experience
Apple, Google, LG, WhatsApp, Samsung, Verizon, Comcast, Electronic Arts, Virgin Galactic, T-Mobile, Sprint, Adobe, HP, RocketSpace, DropBox, Zillow, Panasonic, MSNBC, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, McDonald’s, Burger King, Starbucks, Whole Foods, Panda Express, Jack in the Box, Oreo, Ritz, Bibigo, Hyundai, Honda, Saturn, Lexus, VW, Lincoln, Jeep, Mercedes, Acura, Toyota, Kia, Chevrolet, Smirnoff, Jose Cuervo, Bacardi, Stoli, Rolling Rock, Budweiser, Bud Light, Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, Bombay Sapphire, Dos Equis, Delta Airlines, Ritz-Carlton, Phillips 66, Blue Cross, Pfizer, JP Morgan, AFL-CIO, Discover Card, Doritos, HSBC, Medicare, Public Storage, Air Canada, Band-Aid, Whole Foods and More
Timeline
Executive Creative Director | Brand & Content Strategy Leader | Creative Consultant
Huddle
01.2020 - Current
Global Head of Creative | Executive Creative Director
9thWonder
01.2017 - 01.2020
Creative Director | Writer | Brand Consultant
01.2014 - 01.2017
Executive Creative Director
Publicis NY
01.2011 - 01.2013
Global Creative Director
J. Walter Thompson NY
01.2009 - 01.2011
Associate Creative Director
Goodby Silverstein & Partners
01.2005 - 01.2009
Associate Creative Director
David & Goliath
01.2002 - 01.2005
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
University of Georgia
Postgraduate Diploma - Advertising
The Creative Circus
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