Greg Sheppard

Greg Sheppard  -  Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2193, South Africa -  www.linkedin.com/in/gregsheppard/  https://www.behance.net/gregsheppard Senior Creative Director Creative Director | Head of Marketing | Brand Storyteller Dynamic and award-winning Creative Director and Strategic Marketing Leader with 20+ years of international and African market experience. A master of brand storytelling, digital innovation, and experiential design, I’ve led transformative campaigns for global icons like Heineken, L’Oréal, Red Bull, BMW, and Sony. I specialize in turning bold ideas into business-driving realities, mentoring high-performing creative teams, and building brands that resonate. Whether launching disruptive platforms or producing unforgettable events, I combine creative intuition with strategic clarity to craft work that connects, inspires, and delivers results. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Vertical Limit Productions / Self Employed – Johannesburg, South Africa01/2018 - PRESENT SENIOR STRATEGIC CREATIVE CONSULTANT Deliver high-level creative consultancy for global and African clients including Red Bull, Heineken, BMW, Discovery, and L’Oréal. Develop strategic, cross-channel campaigns that fuse insight, innovation, and storytelling. Collaborate with agencies to shape brand messaging and creative direction from pitch to execution. View4All.tv / Self Employed– Johannesburg, South Africa08/2017 - PRESENT FOUNDER AND CEO Developed an industry disruptive and unique advertising funded content platform for Africa that is the first ever free access Video-On-Demand portal on the continent. Specializing in User Generated Content (UGC), Branded Content and African content production. Collaborating, mentoring and empowering young video makers and social media influencers whilst supplying a platform where they are able to monetize their content. Vertical Limit Productions – Johannesburg, South Africa03/2014 – 12/2017 CREATIVE DIRECTOR / COMPANY DIRECTOR Creative partner in a successful events business, predominantly creating breakthrough live events and activations for both local and international brands. Directed complex events and marketing campaigns from initial briefing to successful execution, achieving outstanding client satisfaction and often exceeding expectations. Directed and inspired a committed team to develop and manage groundbreaking events and activations. The various brands we called our clients: Samsung / South African Music Awards / Zambian Music Awards / Liberty Life / BBC / Nelson Mandela Unite Fund / DSTV / Multichoice / Kemtek / Amka Self Employed – Johannesburg, South Africa01/2010 – 02/2014 FREELANCE HEAVY WEIGHT CREATIVE Freelance heavy-weight creative for many of the Advertising Agencies and Events Companies Collaborated with team members to develop and execute creative concepts, or if required would handle entire campaigns on my own. Brand experience: Clover / SASOL / Airtel / Ford / MTN / Virgin Mobile / Toyota / Tiger Brands / kulula.com / Multichoice / Aston Martin Interbrand Sampson – Johannesburg, South Africa01/2009 – 12/2009 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Working as joint Creative Director overseeing studio team of 8, campaigns and client relations. Collaborated with team members to develop dynamic brand identities. Worked on African and international brands, creating powerful, successful corporate identities and company communications. The Agency – Johannesburg, South Africa03/2007 – 10/2008 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Joint Creative Director at the Agency Responsible for all creative output and managing creative department of 16 creatives Directly managed client relations for creative work and ensured the successful progress of campaigns. Brand experience: Telkom / Yellow Pages / AVBOB Freelance – Johannesburg, South Africa01/2004 – 02/2007 MEDIUM TO HEAVY SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Art direction for over 50 campaigns in collaboration with Ogilvy, BBDO and TBWA, secured industry awards and increased client campaign reach by 30% on average. Agency Experience: Ogilvy / Y&R / BBDO / Titanium Room / TBWA / WPP Successfully worked on many multiple brands FCB SOUTH AFRICA – Johannesburg, South Africa01/2004 – 12/2004 MEDIUM WEIGHT ART DIRECTOR Full TTL campaigns, and Studio assistant training responsibilities Brand experience: Adcock Ingram / Vodacom / Toyota / Beacon / Purity / Bonitas TBWA \ HUNT LASCARIS – Johannesburg, South Africa01/2003 – 12/2003 MEDIUM WEIGHT ART DIRECTOR Full TTL campaigns, and studio assistant manager Brand experience: BMW / Tiger Brands / Tastic / All Gold / MTN / Standard Bank TBWA \ HUNT LASCARIS – Johannesburg, South Africa01/2002 – 12/2002 JUNIOR ART DIRECTOR Full TTL campaigns Supporting role to various senior Art Directors TBWA \ HUNT LASCARIS – Johannesburg, South Africa01/2001 – 12/2001 STUDIO ASSISTANT Executing and assisting work on behalf of Art Director & Copywriter teams EDUCATION AAA School of Advertising and Marketing - Johannesburg, South Africa Bachelor’s Degree – Art Direction and Marketing, 01/1998 – 10/2000 Completed with distinction, Top 5 in my year Pretoria Boy’s High Schools - Pretoria, South Africa Matric Qualification, 01/1991 – 11/1996 PROFESSIONAL SKILLS Art Direction Strategic communications Creative positioning Media industry expertise Deadline driven Online advertising support Marketing communications Motion graphics Content strategy Creative vision development Team development and management Stakeholder relations Standards Implementation Project Management Expertise Vendor Negotiation AWARDS AND HONORS Several Loerie Awards and Finalists Vuka Film Awards Pendoring Awards Eagle Awards Marketing Awards Cannes Advertising Awards and finalists Clio Awards and finalists Young Gun finalists D&AD finalists and book entry PERSONAL INFORMATION Place of Birth: Pretoria, South Africa Date of Birth: 01/16/78 English (Proficient) Afrikaans (Conversational)