Just a Bloke, Really

The guy in this photo isn’t me. There’s no way I’m putting one of myself up because despite what my mum says, I photograph terribly.

Hello. I’m Ren. A London-born bloke who loves to write, based in New York City.

I got my start in advertising three days into an internship at BBH London. The graduate next to me was sent out to buy a square picture frame. She returned an hour later with no frame and a box of oatmeal…so I got her job.

But don’t worry about her, she’s doing fine.

I was an account-person for two years until I realized I was as useful as a chocolate teapot. One day, someone told me you could do writing for advertising. So I decided to give that a try. I made a portfolio and presented it to my ECD. It was crap.

But she took pity on me and gave me three months on the Creative Placement.

3 months turned into 6, which turned into 12. Then I got hired. I cried.

In June 2018, after being a Copywriter at BBH London for 5 years, I moved to New York and started at the agency, Fig. They eventually hired a second Brit and to be honest, I was pretty mad about it.

After a terrific year and a half, I moved from Fig to Translation LLC, to Anomaly, to Ogilvy. I’m currently at The Robot Co.

What else…..?

I’ve taken an original play to the Edinburgh Fringe, had one recently nominated for an Off-West End Award and had another described by my father as ‘awfully angsty.’ I appreciated the alliteration. I’ve recently finished writing my first novel which has been picked up by an indie publisher in NYC. God bless whoever has to proofread it.

I also get punched in the head with leather gloves for fun and would consider touch typing my most impressive skill.