João Gandara

creative director

about

Hi! I'm João Gandara, Creative Director (copy) with European citizenship, currently at AKQA Sao Paulo.

I’ve had a lot of great stories in the last 14 years working in advertising, but the ones I pretended to be a reporter to be hired by Anselmo Ramos at DAVID and the story of my first lion which has my mom in the credits are definitely my favorites. Wanna know more about it? Hit me at joaogandara88@gmail.com.

+55 11 989824483

Work Experience

AKQA| Creative Director | May 2024 - present
Working for TikTok, Sprite, Nike

AKQA| Associate Creative Director | Jan 2022 - Apr 2024
Working for Sprite, Fanta, Nike, Coca-Cola, Tinder, Google and AB InBev

Nubank| Senior Copywriter | May 2021 - Jan 2022
Rebranding the biggest digital bank in the world

Africa DDB| Senior Copywriter | Fev 2021 - May 2021
Working for Vivo and Brahma

JWT (Wunderman Thompson) | Senior Copywriter | Jul 2016 - Fev 2021
Working for Coca-Cola, Netflix, Sprite, Listerine, Amstel, Sol, Ades, Alcoholics Anonymous and others

+ Created the most watched ad in the world in 2018/2019 according to Youtube Leaderboard for Coca-Cola
(the first Brazilian ad to be on top of the list)

+ Reached the biggest brand engagement in Coca-Cola's history with “Vai no Gás” campaign

+ Part of the team which created Coca-Cola's global spot in partnership with Marvel
(the first ever to be broadcasted in 57 countries without any local adaptation)

+ Won the Netflix Brand&Editorial pitch

+ Won the Coca-Cola teens platform pitch for 2019

+ Helped getting Coca-Cola global pitch for the new football platform around the world
(the first global Coke pitch won by JWT Brazil)

+ Part of the team which got the Amstel beer account
(the first beer account in all JWT Brazil history)

McCann Commonwealth | Copywriter | Apr 2016 - Jul 2016
Worked exclusively for Chevrolet Latin America

DAVID | Copywriter | Dec 2013 - Apr 2016
Worked for Burger King, Coca-Cola, Faber-Castell, Powerade, Cervejaria Bohemia and others.

+ Helped Burger King to break a brand record of sales with “The Big King” Campaign

+ Helped getting the Bohemia Brewery account

Small Agencies | Copywriter, Social Media and even art director | 2009 - 2013
Worked for Reckitt Benckiser, Diageo, Pullmantur Cruises and many others

Education

Creative Leadership - Miami Ad School (2020*)

Creativity - Escola Cuca (2013)

Storytelling and Film script workshop - Thiago Fogaça (2012)

Digital Marketing Strategies and Social Media Management - São Paulo Digital School (2012)

Major degree Social Communication - Anhembi Morumbi University (2007-2011)

awards

2024

CCSP | Silver | Sprite Heat Happens
CCSP | Silver | Sprite Heat Happens

2023

Effie Awards LATAM | Gold | Google Campaign

2021

Cannes Lions | Shortlist | Print

El Ojo de Iberoamérica | Silver | Print

El Ojo de Iberoamérica | Shortlist | Data

One Show | Merit

One Show | Shortlist

Clio Awards | Shortlist

2020

Effie Awards Brazil | Bronze

Creative Club of Sao Paulo | Shortlist| Green Star

2019

Effie Awards | Bronze

YouTube Ads Leaderboard | #1

Young Lions | Finalist

Wave Festival | Shortlist | Film

Creative Club of Sao Paulo | In Book | Film

2018

Cannes Lions | Shortlist | Media

One Show | Merit | Craft / Data-Driven Personalisation

LIA Awards | Silver | Radio & Audio Campaign
LIA Awards | Finalist | Sound & Music: Original Music

Young Lions | Finalist

Creative LIAisons | Attendee

MMA Global Smarties | Gold

Creative Club of Sao Paulo | Bronze | Branded Content
Creative Club of Sao Paulo | In Book | Direct

Gunn Media 100 | Ranked #29

2017

Facebook Awards | Global Winners | Act | Anonymous Friend

MMA Global Smarties | 1 Gold and 2 Silver

Lürzer's Archive | Published | Vol. 4/17

Creative Club of Sao Paulo | 1 Silver and 1 In Book

Wave Festival | Bronze | Branded Content | The Big King

Best Ads on TV | Best Interactive | Anonymous Friend

2016

Best Ads on TV | Best Ambient | 12 Miles

2015

Best Ads on TV | Best Outdoor | The Big King