A defining chapter in global advertising is closing. TBWA has announced that John Hunt, one of South Africa’s most revered creative minds and one of the world’s most respected industry leaders, will retire as Worldwide Creative Chair at the end of December.
Hunt won’t be disappearing from the scene entirely. He will continue as non-executive Chair of the TBWA\South Africa board, a steadying voice, a mentor, and an enduring creative conscience. But this moment marks the end of an extraordinary four-decade journey that shaped the soul of South African advertising and elevated TBWA into a globally recognised creative force.
A Creative Legacy Rooted in Johannesburg, Reaching the World
John Hunt’s path into advertising was never linear. He began his career in Johannesburg in the early 1980s, drifting into the industry after a stint as a claims clerk and time spent freelancing as a writer. In 1983, alongside Reg Lascaris, he co-founded Hunt Lascaris, an agency that would quickly grow into one of South Africa’s most important creative institutions.
From the outset, the agency was different. Confident. Culturally attuned. Fearless. It made work that commented on and shaped key cultural moments at the time, defining new standards for creativity in the industry.
One of Hunt’s most cherished professional memories was his close involvement in Nelson Mandela’s first election campaign, a moment where creativity met democracy at a critical juncture in South Africa’s history.
By the mid-1990s, Hunt Lascaris joined the global TBWA Collective, evolving into TBWA\Hunt Lascaris and solidifying its place among the world’s leading creative agencies. When Hunt was appointed Worldwide Creative Chair in 2003, he split his time between Johannesburg and New York, overseeing creative output across more than 80 countries, but always with one foot firmly planted in South Africa.
John used to say life is too short to be mediocre. Thanks to his incomparable talent and deep advice, so many of us have tried to aim higher and, in doing so, make our lives more beautiful. Thank you, John. You’ve been an inspiration to us all.” – Jean-Marie Dru, Chairman of TBWA\Worldwide
A Legacy That Lives Beyond the Work
Though Hunt has not been operationally involved in TBWA\South Africa for more than a decade, his influence has remained palpable. His decision to retire marks a natural transition, a moment to step back, focus on family, explore personal pursuits, and continue guiding the South African board from a place of wisdom, not routine.
“For nearly half a century John has inspired generations of creative thinkers both locally and internationally. His ambition remains a driving force for all of us.” – Luca Gallarelli, TBWA\South Africa Group CEO
His legacy is visible everywhere, in the work, in the people, and in the stories that defined an era. I will always be a proud John Hunt groupie.” – Chief Creative Officer Carl Willoughby
Even as he leaves the daily grind of 3 Sandown Valley Crescent behind, Hunt’s presence will still be felt in the corridors, the brainstorms, and the brave ideas that define the agency’s DNA.
What This Moment Means for South African Creativity
John Hunt’s retirement marks a shift in South Africa’s creative landscape. His career has been a living reminder that world-class ideas can come from Johannesburg just as powerfully as they do from New York, London, or Los Angeles
And he showed generations of young creatives that writing, thinking, and dreaming from this corner of the world could move global culture.
As the maestro signs off, he leaves behind an industry braver than he found it, one defined by originality, cultural fluency, and a belief in creativity as a force for change.
John Hunt’s run at TBWA may be ending, but the spirit he ignited continues to guide the next wave of South African talent reaching for their own stars.
