Our People
We’re a diverse bunch. Designers, creatives, digital artists, videographers, illustrators and animators. We’re all about keeping the process simple. We think pragmatically, produce efficiently and execute superbly.
20 top notch characters make up the EightyOne family of fun.
Carlos Constable
Partner & Creative Director
Carlos is our creative guiding force and champion of the detail…
Slightly taller, with better hair. He's equally comfortable cracking creative conundrums as he is delivering the precision of that last 5%, Carlos is our go to when the answer is proving illusive.
Matt West
Partner & Business Director
That would make Matt our driving force and strategic compass…
Who knows! But if anyone has an idea where it might be, it would be Matt. He is the pointy end of our strategy and provides the litmus test of any idea before it goes out into the world. Including his own, of which there are many. Not keen on sitting still too long, he’s always on the hunt for the next opportunity.
Chris Bleackley
Creative Director
Chris was asked to write his own bio, but he missed the deadline.
The man’s always busy. Responsible for some of New Zealand’s most loved ads, and almost anything Whittaker’s you’ve ever seen, Chris loves nothing better than pushing the creative envelope. He knocked about in the heyday of the NZ advertising scene, causing all sorts of mischief. He’s all grown up now, but it hasn’t diminished his desire to cause trouble.
Jason Wells
Partner
Jason is our ideas man and resident story teller…
He’d give Spike a run for his money we reckon. Jason has an enviably fertile mind for ideas and insights. He’s our King of Concepts, even if we didn’t think there was one to be had. When Jason isn’t plying his craft over at DOT loves data he’s over here with the EightyOne team.
Lance Watson
Studio Manager
Lance is our go to man for everything technical…
He’s a highly experienced studio manager, with a knack for production technicalities. Complex and varied delivery schedules are mastered with ease in his safe hands. All the while ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of the studio and its infrastructure.
Zelle Read
Art Director
Zelle is the slayer of all things creative and complex…
Oh, she is equally comfortable delivering the precision, down to the micro details. Zelle is a character with an astounding toolkit of contrasting talents – that means she is just as at home in the world of data visualisation as she is crafting a brand campaign. All of this is grounded in a personality that is equal parts mischief and discipline.
Greg Dyne
Design Director
Greg was born with a pencil in his hand…
He couldn’t look more comfortable with it now. When there’s a conceptual design to be cracked, the beautiful creations that flow from Greg's hands are scarily good. Humility prevents him from blowing his own trumpet so we have to sing his praises for him.
Andre Caraco
Designer
Andre’s a bit like fine fusion cuisine…
Having arrived in Wellington by way of California and Mexico City, Andre blends a confident, colourful approach to design and illustration with innate smarts and logic. Garnished with good humour and a peppering of cheek, he’s fast becoming a local favourite.
Kristine Gonzalez
Producer / Videographer / Editor
Tina’s a Brooklynite with a zealous spirit to match…
Fuhgeddaboudit! Tina’s now made her home down under where she specialises in short-form video content, mastering everything from editing, shooting and producing – she does it all. Having predominantly worked in the music industry, we love hearing stories of her time spent hanging with Hip Hop’s greatest, and most notably, life on the road with rapper and producer, Timbaland.
Alex Le
Digital Media Designer
Alex is the James Bond of EightyOne…
We call him ‘OO-Sug’ (shoog). He has an incomprehensible repertoire of talents encompassing 3D digital media design and animation through to web and a whole stack in between. He quietly goes about his craft with an unflappable calm and wry smile.
Anna Gan
Junior Animator
Anna is our animation queen-in-the-making…
That’s right. Having recently graduated with a Masters in Fine Arts, specialising in animation, Anna brings a wide range of skills and raw talent to the table. Her love of anime has led her to explore an illustrative style of animation. And as she grows and refines her skills, we can’t wait to see what creations she’ll bring to life on screen.
Jeremy Hall
Studio Artist
Jay’s an illustrator with a flair for drama…
He’s certainly got the right spirit, and his storyboarding skills and illustrations are world class. We nabbed him fresh out of an internship with Cartoon Network in Singapore. Jay’s always ready to take on new opportunities, and his knack for storytelling is complemented by a passion for production and film-making – a fierce combination.
Chris Appelros
Copywriter
Because one Chris isn’t enough, here’s another…
This second Chris once (and only once) starred in his very own TV ad for a well-known hardware store. That tape is lost to time, but his enthusiasm for the industry lives on. Truth be told, he hates the spotlight, which is odd because he loves nothing more than creating unforgettable work that makes clients famous.
James Henderson
Art Director
36 ideas remaining…
James began his creative career as an illustrator until he was introduced to Copywriter, Chris Appelros (see left). It was here he learned that with their talents combined they could create work that made their mothers proud and their fathers change the channel.
Emma Chote
Copywriter / Account Manager
Emma knows her way around a story…
Yeah, but Emma’s writing is sharper than any blade we could get our hands on. And she’s one hell of a wrangler too. Accompanied by a cheeky laugh, you can bet Emma will suss out a tough job faster than you can say “cut-through copy”.
Rosie Rattray
Account Executive
Rosie’s our fiery, 5 foot, pocket rocket…
You could say that! Despite her size, Rosie’s got a personality that’s larger than life, and she’s one hell of a boxer. Hailing from a tiny village in the Wairarapa, Rosie’s always eager to try new things. And having previously worked in broadcasting and promotions, she’s all about communication and collaboration – just what an accounts team needs in their corner!
Penelope Hobbs
Account Director
Penny’s a tactical player…
Thoughtful and driven, Penny manages her projects with a cool head and attention to detail. With years of experience in sports marketing, she brings to the team a thorough understanding of relationship management and strategy development. Working within the fast-paced world of sport, Penny knows the meaning of high performance and with her get-it-done attitude she’s in a league of her own.
Andy Barnett
Videographer / Studio Artist
Andy’s a self-professed collector of all things cameras…
With a passion for filmmaking and video production, Andy’s in the know when it comes to the latest tools and gadgets. Cameras, drones, gimbals – whatever he can get his hands on, Andy’s always looking for new and exciting ways to capture the world – and boy, does he do a good job of it. Trained in UI Design and a self-taught videographer, Andy balances refined skill and creative ambition.
Clément Rebouillat
Multimedia Specialist
Clèm’s a videographer who never misses a beat…
We haven’t seen him dance yet, but this avid muso and keen filmmaker has got his finger on the pulse in more ways than one. Clèm’s our specialist from Lyon, France and having travelled and lived in many parts of the world, Clèm brings a fresh eye to all our video content and production – as well as some handy know-how in digital marketing strategy.
Ingrid O'Neill
Designer
Ingrid brings a diverse portfolio to the table…
Coming from a long line of woodchoppers in little ol’ Puhoi, she’s an old hat at the chop and change. And that’s what makes her work so unique. With an abundance of both design and life experience under her belt, Ingrid’s agile nature means she can quickly adapt to new work and is never afraid to push the boundaries of conventional design.