JP Advertising Ltd has recruited James McTavish, one of the most experienced international business development executives in the advertising and marketing industry. James brings with him over 25 years experience in various high-profile posts with the most renowned marketing and PR agencies in the world, including Saatchi and Saatchi and Publicis.
Given his international experience, Mr McTavish will be assisting local businesses in their use of below and above the line marketing and advertising tools to help them develop business opportunities and penetrate overseas markets. His experience and know-how in various European and Far Eastern markets will definitely be an asset to companies seeking marketing consultancy locally and overseas.
Prior to joining JP Advertising, Mr McTavish was Managing Director and International Business Development Director of IMAG Communications, responsible for the Libya and North Africa region. He also held various other high profile posts, including Creative Director for Saatchi and Saatchi London and Australia; Regional Creative Director and International Business Development Executive for Publicis, where he was responsible for Middle East operations, and Executive Creative Director and Business Development for WPP/Redcell, overseeing Malaysia, Singapore and China, among others. He has also worked as a cartoonist for The Times and Sunday Times of London.
Some of the key highlights in Mr McTavish’s career include the implementation and development of the Mercedes Fashion Week, originally a concept implemented to sell Mercedes Benz cars to women in Asia, where buyers of such cars are predominantly male. The success of the event not only outstripped supply but was taken up worldwide and is now regarded as one of the major fashion events on the calendar.
Throughout his career, Mr McTavish has successfully deployed a number of strategic marketing initiatives that saved Radio One in the UK, which today claims one of the largest audiences in the area. He was also one of the minds behind the Dubai Shopping Festival – the biggest shopping festival in the world – an idea that helped put Dubai on the map as a major tourist destination.
His marketing competence has also been recognised by numerous prestigious international awards including the Cannes Advertising Festival in France, The Campaign Press and Poster Awards in London, the D&AD Awards in London, the One Show Awards in New York, the Euro Best Awards, The Australian Art Club Awards and the Pan Asian Campaign Brief Awards.
In recognition of the services rendered to the advertising and design industry, Mr McTavish has also been offered the post of Associate Professor at Curtin University in Australia.