John Hunt

John Hunt (19**-). South African advertising executive and playwright.

Also known as John Marchant Hunt

Biography

Born John Marchant Hunt in Zambia, educated in South Africa.

In 1983, John and his partners founded TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris, an advertising agency that has won countless awards. In 2003, John moved to TBWA’s New York headquarters to assume the role of Worldwide Creative Director. John returned to South Africa in 2006 to continue his Worldwide role from Johannesburg.

He has served as juror across every major industry awards show, including as President of the Cannes Film, Press & Outdoor Advertising Festival in 2005. He has also found time to write a number of television and theatre plays and books, including The Art of the Idea: And How It Can Change Your Life.

He was named South African Playwright of the Year for Vid Alex, a play that condemned censorship during the apartheid years, and has also published a book,

Career

Co-founder of TBWA Hunt Lascaris, widely recognized as one of the leading advertising agencies in the world. The agency started in 1983 with the mantra "Life's too short to be mediocre." It has won a number of awards, including International Agency of The Year in 2008. In 1993 John Hunt was intimately involved in Nelson Mandela's first ANC election campaign. In April 2003 he moved to TBWA's New York headquarters to assume the role of Worldwide Creative Director.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

John Hunt is an award-winning playwright. His plays include Fireking1, Vid Alex (1989), Piano Man (1989),Stand in the Sun (1999).

Awards, etc

Amstel Playwright of the Year (1989) for Vid Alex.

Sources

Who's Who Southern Africa [1].

Saturday Star, 27 march 1999.

Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography

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