John Hunt to Step Down as TBWA Worldwide Creative Chair

TBWA has announced that John Hunt, one of South Africa’s most influential advertising creatives and a global leader in the industry, will retire from his role as worldwide creative chair at the end of December.

John, who co-founded TBWA\Hunt Lascaris, will continue to serve as non-executive chair of the TBWA\South Africa board. This marks the end of an extraordinary four-decade career that helped define the region’s creative industry, and cemented TBWA’s influence worldwide.

“John used to say life is too short to be mediocre,” reflected Jean-Marie Dru, chairman of TBWA\Worldwide. “Thanks to his incomparable talent and his deep advice, so many of us have tried to aim higher – and, in doing so, make our lives more beautiful. Thank you, John, you’ve been an inspiration to us all.”

John ‘fell’ into advertising in the early 1980s, starting the agency Hunt Lascasris with Reg Lascaris in 1983. They soon built a global reputation for bold, culturally resonant work, including Nelson Mandela’s first election campaign.

The agency joined the TBWA Collective by the mid-’90s, and in 2003, John was appointed as the network’s worldwide creative chair. Along the way, he oversaw the creation of Nando’s irreverent brand character and helped launch MTN, taking the telecommunications start-up to over 300m subscribers and Africa’s most valuable brand. He also worked on The Zimbabwean Campaign, the launch of South Africa’s new constitution, and the adidas campaign for the 2010 South African FIFA World Cup.

Despite not being operationally involved in TBWA\South Africa for more than a decade, he has stayed closely connected to his South African roots, dividing his time between Johannesburg and New York while overseeing TBWA’s global creative.

TBWA\South Africa group CEO, Luca Gallarelli, described Hunt’s influence as “immeasurable”.

“For nearly half a century John has inspired generations of creative thinkers both locally and internationally. As one half of the team who boldly declared that they wished to create the ‘first world-class agency out of Africa’, his ambition remains a driving force for all of us across TBWA\South Africa.

“For the past six years I have had the deep personal privilege of working with, and learning from, a true global industry giant – one of the greatest privileges of my life. I am immensely grateful for John’s friendship and counsel.”

TBWA\Hunt Lascaris’ CCO Carl Willoughby added, “When we celebrated Hunt Lascaris’ 40th anniversary, his legacy was visible everywhere: in the work, in the people, and in the stories that defined an era in our industry and our country. I feel deeply privileged to have had access to him as a generous mentor and creative compass. He has quite literally shaped who I am professionally, and I will continue his legacy of iconic work. I have always been, and will continue to be, a proud John Hunt groupie.”

Under John’s leadership, TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris was named Agency of the Decade in South Africa and won multiple awards from Cannes Lions Grand Prix’s to D&AD Black Pencils. He was inducted into the Loerie Awards Hall of Fame in 2005 and, in 2022, into the New York One Club Creative Hall of Fame.

Beyond advertising, Hunt is an award-winning playwright and the author of ‘The Art of the Idea (and how it can change your life)’, a reflection on creativity that has been translated into several languages. His acclaimed anti-apartheid play ‘Vid Alex’ earned him South African Playwright of the Year, and his television dramas further cemented his reputation as a storyteller who moves audiences across mediums.”

​Lee Clow, the legendary creative behind TBWA\Chiat\Day, said, “When we joined the TBWA network, it was great to meet John Hunt. Hunt Lascaris and Chiat\Day got to keep our creative souls while joining a giant global network. John and his work inspired us, and all the TBWA offices around the world. I miss our creative celebrations at Cannes. The network will miss his creative passion, but congratulations John. You’ve earned it.”

TBWA\Worldwide’s global CEO Erin Riley added, “In our industry we sometimes use the word ‘icon’ too freely, but not in John’s case. Here, it is quite accurate. What a gift it has been to be in the light of a living icon. To learn from his work, his wisdom, and his character. He showed us that creativity, at its best, can heal, unite, and move forward not just brands, but society. He once created a shirt for Hunt Lascaris of a person atop a mountain reaching for a star. That’s what he did for the entire TBWA Collective. He inspired us to reach for excellence and his mark on us is indelible.”

The announcement from TBWA stated that John’s decision to step down marks a natural progression – a wish to spend more time with family and on personal pursuits, while continuing to contribute his perspective and champion fearless, creative ambition as chair of the South African board — as he has done for generations of TBWA talent.