About

b. 1986, HK.

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Luiz’s Bio

Hey there, I’m Luiz.

I was born in Salvador, Brazil. Which is a pretty incredible place to start. I just never wanted it to be the only place I knew.

So I kept going.

São Paulo. Hamburg. Dubai. Chicago. Los Angeles. Different cities, countries, cultures, languages and ways of seeing the world. What started as curiosity became a career—and eventually, a way of thinking. Because every time you put yourself somewhere unfamiliar, you come back seeing familiar things a little differently.

For more than 20 years, I’ve turned that perspective into work for some of the biggest brands in the world, including Coca-Cola, IKEA, Volkswagen, Unilever, P&G and Hyundai, as well as some wonderfully small ones you probably haven’t heard of yet. I’ve helped launch brands, reposition them, make people talk about them and, most importantly, make people feel something about them.

I’ve done it at agencies including Ogilvy, McCann, Havas, Jung von Matt, Leo Burnett and INNOCEAN USA. The work has picked up 12 Cannes Lions and a fair amount of other shiny things along the way. I’m proud of them. But the things I’ve collected that matter most don’t fit on a shelf.

Curiosity from going somewhere new. Empathy from being the new guy more times than I can count. The ability to see things from more than one perspective. And the belief that great ideas can come from anyone, anywhere—if you create the kind of room where they can.

Today, I bring all of that to leading teams and making work: a love of big ideas, craft, culture and stories people actually want to spend time with. I care deeply about the work, but just as much about the people making it. And I’m still driven by the same curiosity that got me here in the first place.

If there’s more out there, I'll go find it.

I’m still going.


RESUME

Luiz Vicente Simões, Group Creative Director/CW

Brazilian on an O1 Visa, currently based in Los Angeles-CA

EXPERIENCE

Innocean USA, Huntington Beach— Creative Director

AUG 2021- PRESENT

Having worked across both Hyundai and its luxury brand, Genesis, I’ve helped push the creative bar higher—while spearheading Hyundai’s global FIFA World Cup campaign.

David&Goliath, Los Angeles— Group Creative Director

AUG 2021- JUN-2023

At David & Goliath, I created work for global brands like Hasbro and Kia Motors, while helping challenger brands like Procera African Gin and El Hempe Seltzer break through in their categories. I also led socially relevant work through the agency’s Social Impact practice—bringing the same creative ambition to every brief, regardless of the client or cause.

Havas Chicago- Creative Director

JAN 2020 - JUL 2021

At Havas, I led creative teams across Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Moen and Amazon—creating breakthrough work even as a global pandemic turned everything we knew upside down.


Leo Burnett Chicago- Creative Director

NOV 2016- 2019

At Leo Burnett, I served as Regional Creative Director for Purina Latin America, raising the creative bar and leading teams across the region. I also created work for global brands including Firestone, Marshalls, Samsung, Jim Beam, MillerCoors and Allstate.


Memac Ogilvy & Mather Dubai- Regional Associate Creative Director

AUG 2015-  SEPT 2016

In Dubai, I led teams and award-winning work across Ogilvy’s GCC offices, creating for some of the world’s most iconic brands, including IKEA, Coca-Cola, Volkswagen, Burger King, Cadbury and Virgin Mobile.

JUNG v. MATT Hamburg- Sr. Copywriter

DEC 2012-  JUNE 2015

At Jung von Matt, one of Germany’s most respected agencies, I helped build the creative reputation of Zalando, one of Europe’s largest online fashion retailers. I also created work for brands including NIVEA, WWF, Rivella, Mercedes-Benz, Der Spiegel and Sixt.

NAKED Brasil- Sr. Copywriter

2012 to 2012

During his brief stint at Naked Brasil, Luiz was fortunate enough to work on Brazil’s largest cosmetic multinational, Natura, and Hering (one of Brazil's biggest fashion retailers). Helped the agency pitch and win the Kingston account.


Ogilvy Brasil- Sr. Copywriter

2010 to 2012

I worked with global powerhouses including The Coca-Cola Company, Dove, Claro and JAC Motors, creating award-winning work recognized around the world—and helping propel the agency to #3 at Cannes Lions in 2012.


McCann-Erickson Brasil- Copywriter / Senior Copywriter

2006 to 2009

As one of the lead creatives on General Motors, I helped create nationwide campaigns that shifted brand perception and drove business growth across Brazil. I also led work for Santander and created campaigns for HP, TIM, Cadbury Adams and Unilever Ice Cream.


Ogilvy Brasil- Jr. Copywriter – Copywriter

2001 to 2005

I created work for a diverse roster of global brands including The Coca-Cola Company, Fiat, Kodak, Unilever, Kraft Foods and Terra—turning big briefs into breakthrough ideas that made a real impact.


AWARDS

CANNES

4x Gold 

3x Silver

 5x Bronze 

26x Shortlist

D&AD

5 Pencils (1x Graphite and 4x Wooden ones)

ONE SHOW

1x Bronze Pencil


6x Merit



DUBAI LYNX

2x Gold

7x Silver


9x Bronze


14x Shortlist

LIAA

2x Gold

5x Finalist

CLIO

1x Gold


2x Silver


2x Bronze

5x Shortlist

ADC NY

1x Distinctive Merit 

ADC GERMANY

3x Bronze

EL OJO DE IBEROAMERICA

2x Gold


3x Bronze


3x Shortlist


BRAZILIAN CREATIVE YEARBOOK - SÃO PAULO

1x Silver Star

2x Bronze Star

6x Finalist

LüRZER’S ARCHIVE

Ranked #2 Copywriter in the World 2016 with the most published campaigns in Lürzer’s Archive Magazine- One of the the world’s leading publications for creative advertising.

YOUNG LIONS
Selected to be part of the Brazilian Young Lions delegation in 2004.


EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree in Communications from University Católica
do Salvador UCSal 1997 to 2000 - Bahia.

LANGUAGES

Fluent English
Fluent Portuguese (native)
Mid-level Spanish
Initial French
Initial German (A2 level)