Alex Ohannessian :: Le Beard Magnifique

Multicultural Global Creative Director with experience working on clients ranging from global to local in the US and Asia. Born and raised in Uruguay.

:: Multilingual :: Native English and Spanish
Fluent French (needs practice)
Basic Izakaya-level Japanese

:: Currently :: Freelance global creative
Looking for my next full-time challenge. Let’s chat!

Say hello 👋

✉️ :: alexohannessian@gmail.com
Linkedin :: alexOhannessian | Working Not Working :: ohanna

About Me

:: 👶 🎸 ::
Born and raised in Uruguay, a small country with big dreams (2-time / 4-time 🧐 World Champion), I dreamt of being a rockstar or an elite footballer and traveling the world. Though I still play guitar and watch too much fútbol, that dream was gradually replaced by a 15+ year-long career in advertising. I got to see the world; I just don’t trash as many hotel rooms.

:: 🌎 ::
Lived in New York, Miami, Seattle, Singapore, and Tokyo (yes, I have a favorite). Along the way, I worked at SapientNitro and Alma DDB Miami, Proximity BBDO New York, Publicis Seattle, JWT Singapore and Wunderman Thompson Tokyo. Have also freelanced at BBH and Publicis in New York, DDB in San Francisco, and MullenLowe and Virtue Worldwide in Singapore.

Created award-winning work for both big and small brands, for global, regional, local and multicultural audiences. Some of my clients include Ikea, Coca-Cola, Powerade, Visa, McDonald’s, Asus, T-Mobile, HSBC, State Farm, and more. Experienced in integrated, interactive and traditional advertising, with a focus on sports-centric projects.

:: 🇯🇵 ::
As a Creative Director at Wunderman Thompson Tokyo, I led the Ikea regional account for Japan, China and Korea, and worked on Aquarius and other Coca-Cola global projects, as well as Johnson & Johnson (Listerine & Nicorette), and Lux at the local level.

I also implemented and led the Wunderman Thompson Tokyo x Miami Ad School internship collaboration program, mentoring over 80 students from 2020 to 2023.

:: 🐐 ::
I believe great advertising has to be memorable and relevant, rooted in strong human truths. It brings value to people’s lives, and each brand, each problem, deserves its own unique approach.

:: 🎓 ::
I consider mentoring key to making our industry a better place. Have taught at Miami Ad School at their Miami, New York and LatAm locations, School of Visuals Concepts in Seattle, and University of Miami. I have also established and led internship collaborations at Alma DDB and Wunderman Thompson.

Was a Grand Jury at the New York Festivals Advertising Awards, One Show / Young Ones Jury, and AICP Next Awards / Influencer category in 2023.

:: 🎭 ⚽️ ::
When I’m not working, finding great TV (to fall asleep to), or writing about me’s, I write some more. Wrote a one-act play in 2018 which was staged in Singapore and Tokyo. Currently writing a TV show (comedy), co-created with the talented Mark Lawrence Ong.

Obsessed with football jerseys, I agree with you–no one gets it like Macron and Kappa.

:: ⚡️ ::
Dual citizenship - American | Uruguayan
Eligible for an EU spouse work permit.

Born in Montevideo [Uruguay]
✈️ Miami 🚗 New York City 🚁 Seattle 🛴 SF & LA 🚢 Singapore 🚀 Tokyo 🏄 Los Angeles
[Buffalo, Iowa, Puerto Rico, Madrid & Chiang Mai in between].

Résumé

PERSONAL PROJECTS

WIG WOO U • Writer & Creator
:: short play :: staged in Tokyo & Singapore

PowerTrio • Writer & Co-Creator
:: TV comedy series :: work in progress
_____________________________________________

TEACHING & MENTORING

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM LEAD • Miami Ad School
:: created & led the Miami Ad School internship collaboration
🇺🇸MIA | 2011-2012 :: Alma DDB Miami
🇯🇵TKY | 2020-2023 :: Wunderman Thompson Tokyo

INSTRUCTOR & LECTURER
Miami Ad School • Instructor, Advisor
:: Interactive Concepts :: Everything is Media
:: Awards Creative Excellence :: Portfolio
🇺🇸MIA | 2010-2012 & NYC / BKN 2012-2015
🌎GLOBAL, LATAM & REMOTE | 2020-PRESENT
🌎LATAM | 2024-PRESENT :: Global Internship Navigator

University of Miami (Miami) Lecturer [2009]
School of Visual Concepts (Seattle) Lecturer [2015]

SPEAKER
New York University Speaker [NOV. ’12 & APR. ’13]
Miami Ad School Speaker [MAR ’15 & JAN ’19]
_____________________________________________

JURY

AICP Next Awards (Association of Independent Commercial Producers)
2023 Jury • Influencer Category

One Show • Young Ones | Advertising Awards
2020 Jury

New York Festivals | Advertising Awards
2018 Grand Jury
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AWARDS

Cannes Lions - Shortlist
Effie Awards
New York Festivals
International Advertising Awards
D&AD
One Show - Shortlists
FWA - Mobile Of The Day
Creativity Awards
USH Idea Awards

Published on Creativity-Online
Included in The Creative Internet [106 cool things] by Google Creative Labs
Alma DDB No. 6 on Ad Age's Agency A-List
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SKILLS

🌎🗣 Native: English, Spanish Fluent: French

🎸Fender Stratocaster & Danelectro ‘59 NOS+
🔈Silvertone 1482 tube amp
⚽️Fútbol playerfan


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