Aderwize

Head of Ideas / Naked Communications Australia

Previously, Simon was deputy Executive Creative Director at DDB Sydney. Prior to that he had spent 4 years at BBH in London, creative-directing Vodafone and Gordon’s Gin. Prior to that Simon had spent 7 years at DDB London.

The list of awards he has won includes a Cannes Grand Prix (for the VW Polo ‘cops hiding behind the car’ print ad), 2 Cannes Golds, 2 D&AD pencils and 6 pencil nominations, plus various One Shows and Clios.

Simon is the man behind the blog called Scamp, which became the most popular ad blog in the UK. In four years it received just short of a million unique visitors. That blog led to a book deal, and How To Make It As An Advertising Creative was published in May 2010. David Droga wrote the foreword.

Recently he's been crowd sourcing ads to promote atheism. "I may not be able to defeat God but I aim to worry him" he says.

Another interest (and blog) which Simon one day hopes to turn into another book is Dogs Of The World: "It’s amazing how much you can tell about different societies purely by looking at their dogs. A dog in Santa Monica, for example, looks very different to a dog in New Delhi".

When talking about life before advertising, Simon says: "After graduating from Oxford University with a degree in Philosophy and French, I had a brief and unsuccessful career as an investment banker. I then went into journalism, writing articles for (of all things) women’s magazines. I was the bloke informing women about what men ‘really’ like in bed. Over the years I have continued to do occasional journalism, for the likes of The Sunday Times, GQ magazine and Campaign."

As for his personal life, Simon is married with two kids and two cats. "In my spare time I'm writing a novel. Usually with a kid or a cat on my lap. I have two girls aged 10 and 7, so I am no longer allowed to watch football."