Exceptional conceptual writer, strong strategist, tone-of-voice go-to. A word wrangler with comedic edge. Dials up emotion. Turns clunky into smooth. Mad manifesto maker.

At home in front of important clients, on location in foreign destinations or working remotely on a zoom call.

Works fast and fervently when solo. Works great in a team. Likes to lead teams. Knows how to have a laugh. Knows to keep pushing. Normally extremely nice.

Backstory

Life as a full-time barista and underpaid barman was great. Back in Australia in the early 2000s, beer was cheap and the days were long. But I knew I was destined for more.

With a degree in Creative Advertising from England and an art foundation from Bristol (that’s where Banksy’s from), I walked head high into Saatchi & Saatchi, Sydney to accept their offer. There wasn’t one.

A couple years later at Lowe, I got my first paid job as a copywriter. With the constant fear of making flat whites swirling around in the back of my head, I worked long and hard and nourished my creativity with cheap Thai food.

Within 15 months I snuck into Droga5, Sydney as their first creative hire. Five people in an un-air-conditioned garage is uncomfortable in summer. We drank mid-strength beer to celebrate pitch wins and keep our minds cutting edge. 

As the agency expanded I exited, to The Campaign Palace, an internationally acclaimed local powerhouse you’ve probably never heard of. Now, other people were making my macchiatos. I had an Australian passport, an Australian wife and with the global recession not looking too gloomy, we made our move to London.

DDB London. Gentlemanly, extremely nice and fairly good. It got even better when adam&eve came in and renovated. Dart boards, L-shaped sofas and office walls were an extravagance we could do without. Time flew, and just as we peaked as Agency of the Millennium or something like that, my partner and I charged off to Grey, riding on a couple of Cannes lions with a Bill Bernbach Award to boot. 

Six months later, I began creative directing Dairy Crest and HSBC. Working alongside some very talented people, we brought in new business wins for Sixt and Which? creating the brand’s new line, Keep questioning. 

After 5 years of drinking the same old brew at Grey HQ, I craved risk. Hey, freelance could be fun… Accidental monogamist that I am, I jumped into ACNE and stayed for nearly two years. My Swedish improved. There was real Fika. It was fast, social, experimental and often, just mental. But presenting to brands like Netflix, YouTube, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Theatre Company, Uber, Burberry and the Winter Olympics Committee made me feel lucky. Acne was owned by Deloitte, and I’ll (genuinely) forever cherish the hours me and the Global Chief Creative Officer, Andy would spend tweaking each other’s copy.

After the pandemic, it was time for a fresh challenge. I teamed up with Paul Moran for a remote project out of New York with TBWA\Chiat\Day. Since then, we’ve been working for all types of agencies. I have a new espresso machine and I now indulge in ‘swan’ art before meetings.

Get in touch?

07557 294 107 or nrmcguirk@gmail.com