Simple ideas for complicated businesses

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.

Primed by two global agency internships and over a year as a Usage Rights Manager on Unilever, Alex adds his constantly expanding talents to AML’s account handling department. And despite his clear dynamism, he still uses a retro iPod classic, which everyone but him finds a bit odd.

Don’t be fooled by the job title, ‘Tall George’ is a multi-talented member of the creative department who joined us after long jaunt exploring India and South-Eastern Europe. Outside of AML Towers he enjoys gigs (and vinyl – obviously), overpriced beer and his own beard.

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.

With time spent in agencies all over the world and as part of a team that picked up a Cannes Gold, Cat brings her enviable experience to AML’s creative penthouse. It’s little wonder that she unwinds with yoga most days of the week and escapes to the wilderness whenever she can.

If you follow us on Twitter then you’ve probably already heard from Harry. He’s the master of AML social media, new business research and a pro account handler in the making. He has also turned the agency into a testing ground for his baffling language experiments.

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.

Darren is on the frontline of back-end development and brings five years’ web dev experience to AML’s second floor. Outside of creating cutting-edge work he enjoys football, a good run and MMO games. He has recently re-located to central London and is loving being in the beating heart of the capital.

Voracious bibliophile and copy fiend, Matt took his law degree in an unorthodox direction when he entered advertising several years back. Today, he still gets giddy over a good turn of phrase and would love to pen an impossible-to-stage play.

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.

Elizabeth is AML’s welsh-speaking account handling ace. When not busy delivering work sure to leave clients grinning from ear to ear, she’s burning through HBO box sets and obsessing over her personal Twitter followers^*.

^*Seventy at last count

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…

Miten has been working collaboratively with financial services clients since 2004 and seemingly can’t get enough of it. In his downtime he enjoys football and sipping a good single malt on the rocks. Open fire optional.

As a Senior Artworker, Damian has hawkish eye for consistency. When not hunting accidently italicised full stops, he likes going for long walks and exploring new music. He’s also a dab hand at pairing cheese and cask ales.

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.

Although a razor-sharp digital strategist today, it’s unlikely it was Jonathan’s plan when, as a child, he fell through scaffolding at the Louvre and caused a minor international incident. Both he and his interest in urban exploring survived.

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.

Originally from Essex, Nicola once made an appearance on Top of the Pops with Kid Jensen (circa ’83). She rules the studio floor with an iron fist, but after a long day of intricate planning and traffic control, she can’t wait to unwind with the Made in Chelsea gang.

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.