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, Edelman, and Publicis in New York; DDB in San Francisco and in Hong Kong; 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, Marshalls, 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 ⛵️ Miami
[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
_____________________________________________

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
_____________________________________________

SKILLS

🌎🗣 Native: English, Spanish Fluent: French

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


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