SEBASTIAN WALS
BRAND & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
About
I am a creative leader with over 20 years’ experience helping organisations build stronger brands through strategic thinking, creative excellence and collaborative leadership.
Beginning my career at Ogilvy before spending a decade within a successful B2B agency, I went on to establish and lead my own branding & design consultancy, delivering work for clients across legal, finance, property, engineering, hospitality, travel and the charity sector.
My experience combines hands-on design with creative direction, brand strategy, stakeholder management, business development and team leadership. I enjoy building trusted relationships, nurturing creative talent and turning complex business challenges into clear, engaging communications.
Having successfully run my own agency, I am now looking to join an established organisation where I can focus on developing the business and brand, leading creative work, and collaborating with ambitious teams, while contributing to a shared purpose and long-term commercial vision.
Experience
Founder & Creative Director
Rebel Branding - London
2017 - Present
Established and led an independent branding and design consultancy, partnering with SMEs and professional service organisations to develop brands that support growth, reputation and commercial success.
Led branding, identity and campaign projects from initial strategy through to delivery.
Worked directly with business owners and leadership teams to understand commercial objectives.
Developed brand positioning, visual identities, marketing communications and digital assets in line with the company vision.
Managed client relationships, project planning, budgets and creative
delivery.
Presented strategic recommendations and creative concepts to senior stakeholders.
Directed freelance creatives, photographers, developers and specialist partners.
Oversaw all commercial aspects of the business, including planning,
finance and operations.
Delivered long-term branding programmes for organisations in legal, finance, property, engineering, travel and charity sectors.
Developed trusted client relationships resulting in repeat business and long-term partnerships.
Successfully balanced creative leadership with commercial responsibility while maintaining consistently high-quality output.
Creative Director
Latitude B2B Solutions - London
2005 - 2016
Played a key role within a specialist B2B creative agency, delivering branding, campaigns and marketing communications for national and international organisations.
Led creative development across branding, campaigns and corporate communications.
Collaborated closely with account teams and clients to solve business challenges through design.
Presented concepts directly to clients and senior stakeholders.
Art directed photography, publications and integrated campaigns.
Mentored junior designers and helped maintain creative standards across the studio.
Delivered strategic branding projects across a wide range of industries.
Built strong client relationships through responsive, collaborative working.
Developed a reputation for combining creative thinking with commercial understanding.
Art Director
Ogilvy Healthcare + Ogilvy Brand Activation
Johannesburg
2003 - 2005
Started my career within one of the world’s leading advertising agencies, working alongside experienced creative teams on nationally and internationally recognised brands.
This role provided a strong grounding in conceptual thinking, campaign development, art direction and the importance of creative excellence.
Worked on brand activation and advertising campaigns for brands such as Glaxo Smith Kline, Gaviscon, Abbott Pharmaceuticals, Microsoft, KFC, Nando’s, Miller and South African Breweries
Junior Art Director
TBWA Hunt Lascaris
Cape Town
2003
Supporting senior creative teams, delivering on campaigns for Adidas and Landrover.