Jonathan Iams - global brand manager, Starbucks AT Home (vevey, switzerland)
When Alvaro shared the news with me, it was of course bittersweet. It was disappointing to know our time/work together had come to an end (for now, at least), yet I was excited for you and the opportunity to return to your home. I've truly enjoyed the pleasure of working with you and learning from you over the last 2 years, and I'll miss the personal moments shooting the shit about coffee, shoes, watches, motorcycles or whatever.
naturally, it inspired a bit of reflection on the last two years and how proud I am of what we've accomplished. We've come a very long way in a very short amount of time, establishing an incredible foundation for SBUX At-Home that will have years of life ahead of it. With that said, there is without a doubt one moment of our time together that I will always remember...
...it was late in the Summer of 2020, I'd barely been in the SBU for 7 months, we were mid-way through pre-pro on the Masterbrand campaign and you joined the team to provide reinforcement, on the back side of what I'm sure was a challenging year for you personally
...I really hadn't ever experienced a production like we were undertaking (and I'm sure it showed ), with its scale, complexity and the amount of pressure coming from the markets for something breakthrough
...yet I still vividly remember how quickly you "got it", how supportive you were of what we were trying to accomplish and how you almost instantly helped smooth out the process by creating greater clarity
...I can't say I've ever experienced something like that - in the type of support/clarity you provided nor the speed you did it at - and it’s a real testament to the fantastic partner and creative force you are.
Thank you, Tim. You've been an absolute pleasure to work with and I'm grateful for out time together.
Please keep in touch. I'll look forward to when our paths cross again someday in the future.
Warmest Regards,
Jon
p.s. my first pair of Jordans arrive on Monday and I'm psyched! Thanks for the inspiration, coaching and fostering another addiction.
naturally, it inspired a bit of reflection on the last two years and how proud I am of what we've accomplished. We've come a very long way in a very short amount of time, establishing an incredible foundation for SBUX At-Home that will have years of life ahead of it. With that said, there is without a doubt one moment of our time together that I will always remember...
...it was late in the Summer of 2020, I'd barely been in the SBU for 7 months, we were mid-way through pre-pro on the Masterbrand campaign and you joined the team to provide reinforcement, on the back side of what I'm sure was a challenging year for you personally
...I really hadn't ever experienced a production like we were undertaking (and I'm sure it showed ), with its scale, complexity and the amount of pressure coming from the markets for something breakthrough
...yet I still vividly remember how quickly you "got it", how supportive you were of what we were trying to accomplish and how you almost instantly helped smooth out the process by creating greater clarity
...I can't say I've ever experienced something like that - in the type of support/clarity you provided nor the speed you did it at - and it’s a real testament to the fantastic partner and creative force you are.
Thank you, Tim. You've been an absolute pleasure to work with and I'm grateful for out time together.
Please keep in touch. I'll look forward to when our paths cross again someday in the future.
Warmest Regards,
Jon
p.s. my first pair of Jordans arrive on Monday and I'm psyched! Thanks for the inspiration, coaching and fostering another addiction.
Michael Pring - Chief Operating officer, AMV BBDO (London, uk)
i´ve had the pleasure of working with tim since 2015, when he joined the bbdo team in south africa to head up creative development on the diageo business across the region. this was a collaborative effort between amv bbdo in london and net#work bbdo in johannesburg.
in those years he has gone from strength to strength, not only in terms of generating fresh, creative and strategically relevant ideas on brands like guinness and tusker lager, but also as a leader and a friend to teams across both offices.
Pepe Garcia - Creative Director, MRM mccann (madrid, spain)
I was lucky enough to work with Tim at MRM//McCann in Madrid for over a year. You can find great creative leaders or great human beings but it’s difficult to find both in the same guy.
We are from quite different countries but the Spain-South Africa connection was felt very quickly and it was easy to work, think and have fun together. Tim is a creative, positive guy who brings high-level, relevant ideas with proactivity and a 'get it done' attitude.
His strategic mind and strong international business knowledge bring the tools which any agency need to fight for a pitch or launch a campaign for a global audience. His charm and sense of humour makes the whole experience a joy and one I would highly recommend!
Richard Swaab - Deputy Chairman / Head of strategy, BBDO EMEA (london, uk)
Tim has asked me to write a few words about him - which i am delighted to furnish.
To start at the top. Tim is an outstanding talent. He understands strategy. he understands business issues. he understands clients. and from all that understanding he distills, synthesises and creates genuinely big ideas.
every last campaign i´ve worked on with tim has had breadth, longevity and scale (even when budgets haven´t!) his is a fresh, inventive and gloriously lateral mind.
he has also got great ears for feedback, and a real ambition to make the work not just better but more engaging and more relevant.
last thing. he is a top guy. Warm, friendly, empathetic and a great laugh. there is nobody better to spend time with when stuck in an airport lounge.
i just wish we could clone him before he heads to pastures new.
Arturo Dorado Nájera - Senior Copywriter, MRM mccann (Madrid, spain)
It’s rare that your manager becomes a good friend. But that’s exactly what happened to me very soon after I started to work with Tim three years ago at MRM Madrid.
I’ve always admired Tim’s creative flare, but what really makes the difference is his strategic vision, which informs every decision, powering the ideas but also understanding the business.
His endless search for great ideas, his capacity to bring them to the next level, and his calm and respectful way of leading different people to a common purpose is what I’ve been lucky enough to take with me after working with him.
In difficult times and in a multicultural work environment, with resilience, hard work, and tons of jokes, he managed to successfully lead multiple international accounts with very high standards of quality and creativity, earning the respect and love of clients and teammates alike.
Anyone would be lucky to have Tim as a member of their agency or organization.
I’ve always admired Tim’s creative flare, but what really makes the difference is his strategic vision, which informs every decision, powering the ideas but also understanding the business.
His endless search for great ideas, his capacity to bring them to the next level, and his calm and respectful way of leading different people to a common purpose is what I’ve been lucky enough to take with me after working with him.
In difficult times and in a multicultural work environment, with resilience, hard work, and tons of jokes, he managed to successfully lead multiple international accounts with very high standards of quality and creativity, earning the respect and love of clients and teammates alike.
Anyone would be lucky to have Tim as a member of their agency or organization.
Warwick Rautenbach - Creative Director, Freelance (CT, south africa)
I worked with Tim for 2 years in the heyday of Network BBDO, which at the time was the most awarded agency in south africa - in part due to the work of Tim and his Art Director Sean. Tim always fought for the best work and pushed clients to help their brands show up with cut through creative.
Tim is one of the most hard working, smart, talented and strategic minded creatives I’ve ever come across and his achievements and accolades in advertising globally over the last 20 years are testament to that. Aside from all that, he’s just a fantastically great guy to have around. A proper mensch.
James Daniels - Executive Creative Director (sydney, Australia)
How do I write a recommendation for Tim without sounding too much like a teenage Fanboy?
What really stands out is that it has been over 15 years since I worked with Tim, but can still remember his amazing creative ability, passion and insatiable hunger for finding the most relevant and astute way to solve a business problem and creative brief.
He was one of my star thinkers in the team and for a number of years we were the agencies most highly awarded creative team. Apart from the work, Tim was always a pleasure to be around – hugely positive and full of good energy. I have always hoped that one day we would have the opportunity to work together again... but I am sure this time, he would be leading me.