Mark Black - CD / ECD / etc.
Hello.
I’m a CD / ECD / ect. based in London with a career that has allowed me to work across many areas – from what would be classed as more ‘traditional’ agencies to digital and creative technology shops, as well as time spent client-side.
I like ideas that go beyond advertising (while still doing everything advertising should do… like sell stuff).
My formative years were spent in agencies that encouraged me to help brands connect with consumers. TBWA, for example, had ‘Disruption’ – a liberating concept creatively. It allowed me to explore different media, technologies, and ways of thinking. From changing the uniforms in every McDonald’s in Ireland, turning beer mats into pub games for PaddyPower, to creating online games that helped school children understand the benefits of eating more fish for Bord Bia – there was no wrong answer when it came to telling a brand’s story.
The same applied during my time at agencies like Dare and +rehabstudio. I brought what I’d learned about connecting consumers with brands into the world of technology and digital platforms. I never saw “digital” as a lesser medium – I saw it as a massive opportunity to try new things, build, make, and push boundaries. From building chatbots that let kids talk to a T-Rex (National Geographic), to using 360 video to bring fans closer to F1 (YouTube), these projects reinforced my belief that we’ve only scratched the surface of how brands can connect with people.
I’ve also been lucky to work with people who reminded me to not just be a creative – but to be strategic, business-minded, and unafraid to look past the client brief. Finding the real problem lets you create more interesting, impactful work – the kind that makes a difference to a client’s business. Which, after all, is why we do what we do.
Most recently, I’ve spent time client-side – first as Global CD at DiDi, and now as EU CD at HONOR. It’s been a very different experience, working with external partners and agencies, internal creatives, and marketing teams to grow a brand as it expands. A fascinating opportunity to not just work on a brand, but be part of it as it grows.
These experiences have shaped me into what I believe a creative needs to be today, especially in what feels like increasingly challenging times to reach consumers and build brands.
All that said, I like to think my work speaks for how I think. Some of it is live work, some of it thinking – but all of it geared towards solving a problem.
I’m always open to new opportunities to do more of the above. If you think I can help, please say hello.
Current Role:
Creative Director at HONOR
Highlights:
Helping HONOR achieve 77% year-on-year increase in European smartphone sales in Q4 2024
Overseeing award winning PR activations in parthernship with PR agency AXICOM
Ensuring the consistency of creative across 13 European market across Europe.
Previous Roles:
(Acting) Executive Creative Director at Special London
Highlights:
Pitch win for Mutti.
Creative Director at Revolt (6 month FTC)
Highlights:
Worked on purpose-driven projects for brands like Heinz, Budweiser, and Volvic.
Global Creative Director at DiDi
Highlights:
Developed global brand positioning and visual identity evolution.
Established a Global Studio in partnership with OLIVER for all markets.
Led the development of the UK launch campaign.
Launched DiDi sub-brand Linkee in the African market.
Managed launch campaigns in Russia, Egypt, and South Africa.
Creative Director at Havas London
Highlights:
Led the Huawei account, working with both European and Chinese HQs.
Oversaw the successful 1+8+N global campaign for Huawei.
Led the pitch and launch of the Huawei MATE series for three consecutive years.
Developed tone of voice and launched Pravha for Molson Coors across Europe.
Executive Creative Director at +rehab studio
Highlights:
Oversaw the creative output of both direct-to-client and production briefs.
Helped develop a direct-to-client offering alongside the production side of the business.
Partnered with Google Media Labs (US) to produce new product prototypes.
Developed a series of chatbot experiences for Facebook.
Contributed to various successful project pitches.
Creative Director at DHM
Highlights:
Worked with clients like Adnam’s, Rightmove, Penhaligon’s, and Google.
Created and launched Adnam’s first craft beer brand, Jack Brand.
Creative lead on pitches for Cockburn’s, WHICH?, and Adidas Originals.
Associate Creative Director at DARE
Highlights:
Worked on major accounts like BMW, EA Games, Barclays, Barclay Card, and Nescafe.
Led successful pitches for EA Games, BMW, and Nescafe.
Contributed to the agency being crowned "Digital Agency of the Decade."
Creative Director/Head of Art at The Hive
Highlights:
Launched Adidas Originals into the Irish market in 2008 with Ireland’s first truly UGC campaign.
Invited to pitch for Absolut Vodka, Paddy Power, and Jameson Whiskey.
Successfully led art direction across all the agency’s clients.
Creative Director at TBWA Dublin
Highlights:
Led major campaigns for Paddy Power, Jameson, Entertainment.ie, O2, and Playstation.
Awarded Irish Campaign of the Year for Entertainment.ie.
Part of the global TBWA pitch team for Heineken.
Defined and launched the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival.
Art Director at AV Browne
Highlights:
Created the launch campaign for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Led creative pitches for PSNI, Blackstar, and DOE.
Helped make AV Browne the most awarded agency in Ireland.
Freelance Experience:
I’ve always enjoyed freelancing and have been fortunate to work in some amazing places, with great people, on interesting briefs. Freelance experience includes work with:
Mother
Mr. President
Fabula
Rapier (acting CD)
Naked (acting ECD)
Hello People
Inferno
Pretty Green
Harriman Steele
TH_NK
SPECAIL
and more…
Here's what some of the people I've worked for think:
'Freelancers. What a nightmare. You hand over the cash with absolutely no guarantee you’ll get anything back. Sure you’ll get paper, some bad drawing and an assortment of words written down, but nothing remotely useful, nothing to justify to the Finance Director or Client the cost of this extra resource. My approach has always been get the cheapest or most expensive Creatives. Cheapest: Very inexperienced but guaranteed to produce a big pile of paper. Most expensive, (sometimes crazy expensive): Ex-ECD’s or Agency Founders should guarantee a good solution that matches the brief, produced quickly. Mark is an anomaly. Big piles of of paper, on brief, mostly good, not 'crazy expensive’. ' If anyone would like to know more about Mark, my number is 0771 406 8974.'
Dave Dye (Founder - DHM, Hello People & CDD)
'Mark is an exceptional creative. He is a hugely talented art director, an equally capable Creative Director and a highly original thinker. He has a brilliant advertising mind, which always conceives of fresh new ideas that are always much bigger than the media they are intended for. He is also one of the most likeable and unpretentious people in advertising. Mark was a huge asset when he was at Dare, and was always everyone's first choice of creative to work on briefs. He would without question be my first port of call for any freelance.'
Brian Cooper (Ex-Creative Partner at Dare)
'Mark is like a shot in the arm for your brief/Creative development. If you need to get things moving and have lots to think about Mark Black is always a good idea.'
Luke Williamson (Founding Partner at Fabula London, ECD WCRS, one half of Yan & Luke)
'Mark is one of advertising's nice guys, which some people might argue isn't a strong point for a creative director, but I very much think it is. Especially when the rest of the package is of such high quality. Mark brings great ideas, a solid approach to craft and a willingness to work f@@king hard to the table - he's a pleasure to work with and an asset to any creative business. I'd hire him, work with him or go to the pub with him in a shot - each option being as equally low risk and enjoyable as the other.'
Paul Ward (Chief creative operation officer - Naked (former) / Havas)
Some of the clients I’ve work with:
Google, The Sun, BT, Jameson, Nike, OVO, Adidas, entertianment.ie, eBay, PaddyPower, Nescafe, PSNI, Facebook, BMW, Danone, Virgin Atlantic, PlayStation, EA Games, Bacardi, Martini, McDonald’s, Sainsbury's, Barclays, Barclaycard, Adnams, Blackstar.co.uk, Hastings Hotels, EA Games, Huawei, GSK, Molson Coors, Honor, Durex.
Some of the pitches I’ve worked on:
Huawei, PSNI, Blackstar.co.uk, Regus, Nescafe, BMW, Heineken, Pure Leaf, Learn Direct, OVO, Good Energy, Beagle Street, Which?, Adidas, Smithwicks, Kopparberg, entertainment.ie, Bacardi, PAX, H&M, Fab.com, BBC, Ronseal, eBay, Nike, Absolut Vodka, Warner Music, Google, Coke, PaddyPower, Listerine, Jacobs, Lanson, EA Games, Premier Cruises, Facebook, Dewars, Feel Unique, Virgin, Vodafone, Honor.