Simple ideas for complicated businesses

Account man, semi-professional footballer and drummer, David’s interests are as diverse as the brands he’s worked on. With nearly two decades of agency experience, he’s seen it all in adland. Oh, and he’s also a DIY enthusiast with a tool shed that’s ‘equipped to handle anything’.

With over fifteen years’ agency experience, Merope heads up the account handling team at AML. When she’s not busy building brands, nurturing client relationships or listening to Radio 6, you’ll find her sprinting down the streets of Clerkenwell (she’s an active member of AML’s running club).

A highly experienced, cross-discipline project director, Dan is the man when it comes to making sure AML delivers. He enjoys 10k runs along the Brighton seafront, as well as pilgrimages up and down the country to watch his beloved Brighton and Hove Albion. Dan also likes to cook pig’s head with langostines. It is, he assures us, delicious.

Lucy has seen it all in client services and prides herself on being truly unflappable – an invaluable trait among AML’s account handlers. Two things she’s sure to lose her cool around though are her twin loves of food and dogs. Throw in a beach and she’s pretty much in heaven.

With an armful of awards and a passion for haiku, Abhi joins AML by way of respected agencies in India and Singapore. Outside of writing great ads, he’d love to pen the next Great Indian Novel and even launch his own satirical zine.

Alex’s 14 years’ experience, both agency-side and in-house at an investment firm, means she can navigate financial jargon as well as she can her own studio. She’s also a dab hand at freehand writing techniques, an admirer of garden design and collecting leopard print clothing – if that’s a hobby.

Time spent as an advertising and teleshopping scriptwriter, a TV/documentary assistant producer and a TEFL teacher in Latin America means that not only is Isabel a versatile communicator but fully fluent in the language of making stuff happen.

With six years’ agency experience on both sides of the Atlantic, Amanda can be sure to coax out great creative – even when deadlines are tighter than a New York minute. When she’s not at AML, you’ll find her in an apron; baking her weight in cupcakes and going all Mary Berry.

With extensive agency experience, Caroline heads up the strategy department where she spends her days distilling ‘the complex’ into ‘the simple’. She also has two small children, just to make sure she has absolutely no free time.

Channeling his knack for coordinating campaigns, Jack has managed to corral creatives and account handlers into AML’s five-a-side team. When he’s not commanding the football pitch, he’s salivating over plans for his next culinary escapade.

Since being tricked into doing a presentation in a nurse’s uniform when he started working at Allison Mitchell back in 1993, Tim has moved from the role of trickee to master trickster. Outside of work (and that outfit) his preferred past times revolve around horse riding, flying and driving tractors.

Endlessly fascinated by business, brands and human behaviour, Ian brings extensive experience to his role as creative director, strategist, writer and agency head. His varied interests also include bikes and boats, but they’ve both proven tricky to enjoy inside the agency – so far.

With a background in political communications, Jonathan ran his own digital agency for 10 years before merging with AML. Weirdly, every politician he worked for has since wound up in a scandal^*. Thankfully, his love of tech geekery, The West Wing and ferrying his kids to football keeps him out of trouble.

^*Five at last count.

Award-winning copywriter, author and film critic, Richard worships simple, powerful ideas. With nearly two decades’ experience in adland, he heads up the creative team in the penthouse of AML towers – where he spends much of his time worshipping.

Award-winning Art Director and former UK Jitterbug Champion, Chris pairs a heavyweight creative mind with some seriously fancy footwork. Always has an ear out for live bluegrass too, should you know anywhere good.

Said not to have smiled since the summer of ’69, Matt is a regular winner of AML’s Mr Happy Award. But as he’d be the first to point out, who needs smiles when your video content is second to none?

Born in Tianjin, China, Xinna originally studied economics. She then went on to further her studies in the UK before joining AML at its incorporation. But her talents extend beyond just figures, she was once given the title of ‘Top 10 Singers’ at university and still enjoys a bit of karaoke today, but only in Chinese.

Laurence lives in Brighton, which is close to the sea. Has also learnt to love commuting…

Two years and counting in account management, Jess enjoys spending her free time hiking, playing hockey or does her best trying to be a sailor. Except for Sundays when even the lure of waves can’t coax her away from reading the paper.

Experienced counsellor and our second UK Jitterbug Champion, Hobie holds the agency together without even breaking a sweat. She enjoys running, dancing, tennis and watching athletics, as well as sneaking in the odd cinnamon bun from Gail’s bakery.

An award-winning, all-round creative type, Stephen once played for St. Mirren and now runs a website dedicated to vernacular typography. He is yet to launch a sister site celebrating his taste for bridies.

Known as ‘Scarface’ at school, Sonam may very well be the Tony Montana of the studio. Always armed with a smile, he’s a watch obsessive who enjoys his world cuisine and, if the rumours are true, also hunts pigeons in Trafalgar Square.

As if being a busy AML strategist wasn’t enough action, Charlie has reached for the clapperboard to produce his own short film. He’s quickly learnt it’s a great way to spend (and waste) both time and money.