Hi, I’m João Caetano Brasil. Copywriter, creative director, ECD, GCD—or any of those titles that no parent at the birthday parties really understands. But in the end, they all mean the same thing: creating, leading teams, and building an environment where people can be who they are and come up with ideas that can transform businesses, causes, and—why not—people.

I was born in São Paulo, spent ten years in Mato Grosso do Sul, then moved back to the big city. I also lived in Miami for, say, 15 minutes. The result? Wherever I go, people think I have a foreign accent. I’m left-handed, completely into my two daughters, music, film, literature, football and basketball—even though I’m only 1.64 meters tall. Go figure.

In more than 25 years in the industry, I’ve had the good fortune of working with amazing, inspiring people at some of the coolest agencies in Brazil and the U.S.

I began at a startup called Cápsula— an indie shop that was about 20 years ahead of its time. But let’s pick things up from my time at Thompson, where I had the luck of being part of what was probably the happiest creative team in Brazilian advertising at the time—something that showed up directly in the work. It was one of the biggest creative turnarounds in industry history, led by Átila Francucci, Fernando Nobre, and João Linneu. That’s where I won my first Cannes Lions with a campaign for Kleenex  and was selected as one of Brazil’s Young Lions.

At Leo Burnett, I worked as a copywriter and creative director on a range of Fiat launches and retail campaigns—work that helped the brand hold onto its market leadership for more than a decade. One highlight was the launch of the three-door Fiat Strada, which played a major role in making the pickup the best-selling vehicle in Brazil, across all categories. We also helped position Leo among the most awarded agencies in the world, with campaigns like Hemoba's “My blood is red and black”, and won major pitches like Bradesco and Carrefour. Faz, faz, faz Carrefour? Yep, that was us.

Later, I became one of the founding members of EnergyBBDO, helping grow the agency from 3 to 50 people, with campaigns that broke out of the advertising bubble. Among them, “Condemnations”, a campaign for CBN Radio—launched right in the middle of Brazil’s 2018 presidential election—and works for brands like Ford, Zap, and Rexona. The campaign I created for Rexona helped win the brand’s global pitch by the way.

During the pandemic, I took on the role of creative lead at Grey. It was a moment of transformation, as the agency shifted to a more nimble and integrated model. Under my leadership, Grey became a regional hub for Volvo—with work that made their launches sold out and contributed to the brand’s CMO being named one of the best in Brazil by Forbes—and started developing global campaigns for Coca-Cola, including the launch of Lemon Dou and Absolut Sprite (marking the company’s debut in the alcoholic beverage category). The agency also returned to the rankings of Brazil’s most awarded shops.

Eventually, I joined Wieden+Kennedy as Group Creative Director to lead the teams handling Nubank and Uber. In this time, we launched some of the most talked-about campaigns of the year, like Nubanc, by Matt LeBlanc, and Tropa do Atrasa Nunca for Uber Moto.

Over the years, I’ve helped create value for brands and agencies through widely celebrated work. I’ve had the pleasure of mentoring and helping shape the careers of dozens of decent, talented, and successful professionals—and the privilege of creating and launching a free education program exclusively for Black talent - Cria da Quebrada. Somewhere in the middle of all that, I also collected all of the industry’s top national and international awards.

Today, I’m a creative director and copywriter working freelance for a while on specific projects, and I am also co-president of the Brazilian Creative Club.

If you’d like to have a chat or grab a tea (my dear friend Gui told me to stop with the coffee thing), feel free to reach out at joaocaetano@hotmail.com or through my LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joaocaetanobrasil/

Thanks for stopping by.



EXPERIENCE
Wieden+Kennedy, São Paulo - 2024 - 2025
Grey, São Paulo – 2021 to 2024
EnergyBBDO, São Paulo - 2017 to 2021
Leo Burnett Tailor Made, São Paulo – 2011 to 2017
La Comunidad (The Community), Miami – 2011
Leo Burnett, São Paulo – 2006 to 2010
J. Walter Thompson, São Paulo – 2004 to 2006
Bates/Y&R, São Paulo – 2002 to 2004
TBWACápsula, São Paulo – 2000 to 2002

EDUCATION
ESPM – Comunicação Social - 1998/2001
Fundação Dom Cabral – Liderança - 2014


RECOGNITION
︎︎︎ Papel&Caneta’s top voices helping to change the communication industry in 2023
︎︎︎ Chosen “30 under 30” in 2008 by Meio&Mensagem Newspaper
︎︎︎ World's 6th most awarded copywriter in 2013, according to Advertising Age
︎︎︎ 5th most awarded copywriter on the Cannes Report 2013
︎︎︎ Top 10 writer at the One Show 2013.
︎︎︎ Brazilian Young Lion in 2005
︎︎︎ My blood is red and black, for Hemoba and EC Vitória, is part of the NYC's MOMA permanent collection.
︎︎︎ Works published by Contagious, Lüerzer’s Archive, Directory, Communication Arts and Shots
︎︎︎ Gunn Report:
    - Most awarded idea in the ranking's history - All Guns Blazing
    - 2nd most awarded campaign of 2013 - Across Tables
    - Bullet from Gunn 2013
︎︎︎ Directory Big Won Rankings 2013:
    - 3rd Most Awarded Campaign of 2013 - Direct
    - 11th most awarded campaign of the year - All categories


AWARDS
Cannes Lions

    2024
    Brand Experience & Activation - Gold
    Direct - Bronze
    Luxury&Lifestyle - Silver
    2023
    Outdoor - Silver
    Outdoor - Bronze
    Direct - Bronze
    2016
    Media - Bronze
    2014
    Branded Content & Entertainment – Bronze
    Health and Wellness – Gold
    Health and Wellness – Silver
    Health and Wellness – Silver
    Health and Wellness – Silver
    2013
    Direct - Gold
    Outdoor - Gold
    Branded Content & Entertainment – Silver
    Branded Content & Entertainment – Silver
    PR – Silver
    Design – Silver
    Design – Silver
    2012
    Outdoor – Bronze
    2007
    Media – Bronze
    2005
    Film – Gold
    Print – Gold
     40+ Frustrating shortlists from 2003 to 2024, including a Titanium shortlist.

D&AD

    2022
    Film – Low Budget – Wood Pencil
    2016
    Creativity for good - Not for profit - Graphite Pencil
    2013
    Earned Media – Yellow Pencil
    Integrated – Graphite Pencil
    Direct response – Graphite Pencil

The One Show

    2025
    Experiential & Immersive - Silver
    Print&Promotional - Bronze
    Experiential & Immersive - Merit
    Out of Home - Merit
    Direct Marketing - Merit
    IP & Product Design - Merit
    2021
    Social Media - Merit
    2016
    Magazine campaign - Bronze
    Collateral/Posters Campaign - Merit
    Ambient - Merit
    2013
    Integrated Branding - Gold
    Experiential/Events and Competitions - Gold
    Interactive/Experiential - Gold
    2012
    Magazine Campaign - Merit
    Collateral/Posters - Merit
    P.OP. Campaign - Merit
    2006
    Magazine Campaign - Merit

Clio Awards

    2025
    Direct - Silver
    Direct - Bronze
    Experience/Activation - Bronze
    Experience/Activation - Bronze
    2024
    Out of Home - Bronze
    2023 
    Out of home – Bronze  
    2015
    Print technique – Silver
    Out of home – Silver
    Direct – Silver
    2013
    Innovative Media- Gold
    Direct: Out of Home - Gold
    Public Relations: Cause Related - Gold
    Content & Contact - Silver
    Out of Home: Ambient - Silver
    Integrated Campaign - Bronze
    Engagement: Experiential - Bronze
    2006
    Print – Silver
    Film - Bronze

Andy Awards
   
    2025
    Idea - Gold
    2015
    Print Technique - Silver
    2013
    Promotion & Event -  Grand Prix (Richard T. O'Reilly for PSA)
    Promotion & Event – Gold
    Magazine – Gold
    Outdoor – Gold
    Public Service – Silver
    Outdoor – Silver
    Outdoor - Silver

LIA

    2024
    Ambient and activation - Gold
    Public Service/NGO - Gold
    Ambient and activation - Silver
    Experiential - Silver
    Events and experiential - Bronze
    Integration - Bronze
    2022
    Billboard: Best Use of Real Time Advertising - Bronze
    2015
    Non-Traditional - Bronze
    2013
    Non-Traditional - Gold
    Non-Traditional - Gold
    Design - Gold
    Integration - Silver

Effie

    2021
    Gold
    Bronze
    2013
    Gold

Brazilian Creative Club (Clube de Criação)

    2002/2024
    2 Green Stars (Grand Prix not for profit)
    4 Golds
    9 Silvers
    13 Bronzes
    60 In book/Anuario

El Ojo de Iberoamerica

    2024
    Direct - Grand Prix
    Experiencia de marca - Gold
    Direct - Gold
    Mejor idea del pais (Ecuador) - Gold
    2022
    Film – Bronze
    Outdoor – Silver
    Digital&Social – Bronze
    Media – Bronze
    Media – Bronze
    Design – Bronze
    2021
    Digital&Social - Silver
    2013
    Eficacia - Grand Prix
    2012
    Tercer Ojo - Grand Prix
    Tercer Ojo - Gold
    Sports – Silver
    PR – Silver
    Promo - Silver
    Inovador - Bronze
    Sustentable – Bronze
    Directo - Bronze
    2007
    Outdoor – Silver
    2005
    Best Commercial from Brasil (El Ojo Local)
    Film - Gold
    Print – Silver

New York Festivals

    2013
    Integrated – Grand Prix
    Direct – Gold
    Integrated - Gold
    2006
    Television/Cinema - Gold

Young Guns

    2005
    Print Campaign – Bronze

AICP

    2013
    2x Next Awards

Tomorrow Awards

    2012
    Finalist

Webby Awards

    2012
    Copywriting - Honoree

Fiap

    2018
    Film - Bronze
    2013
    The cup of Iberoamerica (Best of show)
    Integrated – Grand Prix
    PR – Grand Prix
    OOH – Grand Prix
    Direct – Gold
    OOH - Gold
    Promo - Silver
    2012
    Viral Films - Bronze
    2010
    Print – Grand Prix
    Print - Gold
    Print - Bronze
    2008
    Film Craft – Gold
    2006
    Film – Bronze
    OOH - Bronze
    2002
    Print – Bronze (My first award ever 😊 )

Wave Festival

    2013
    Integrated - Gold
    Direct – Gold
    Promo – 2x Silver
    PR – Silver
    2012
    Print – Gold
    OOH - Gold
    2008
    Film - Silver

Adstars

    2013
    4 Grand Prix
    5 Golds

El Sol (1 Gold)
    2013
    PR - Gold

JURY PARTICIPATION
︎︎︎ D&AD New Blood - Jury President 2024 ︎︎︎ Brazilian Creative Club (CCSP) – 12 times between 2006 and 2023 (Jury President in 2023)
︎︎︎ Andy Awards (first round jury) - 2016
︎︎︎ El Ojo de Iberoamerica – 2021/2022
︎︎︎ Wave Festival - 2015
︎︎︎ El Sol - 2018
︎︎︎ Cúspide (Puerto Rico) - 2016
︎︎︎ Young Lions – 2007/2009

ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONS
    Articles

    Propmark
    ︎︎︎ https://propmark.com.br/opiniao/o-que-me-enche-os-olhos-dagua/

    Meio&Mensagem
    ︎︎︎ https://sxsw.meioemensagem.com.br/direto-de-austin/2022/03/17/brisket-feijoes-e-uma-session-ipa/
    ︎︎︎ https://sxsw.meioemensagem.com.br/direto-de-austin/2022/03/17/casemiro-tonight-sold-out/

    Clube de Criação
    ︎︎︎ https://www.clubedecriacao.com.br/ultimas/45-anos-21/

Publications

    Papel&Caneta Voices 2023:
    ︎︎︎
https://vozes30.co/

    Contagious:
    ︎︎︎ https://www.contagious.com/news-and-views/spotlight-latin-america-advertising-campaigns

    Directory
︎︎︎ https://www.directnewideas.com/magazine/leo_burnett_tailor_made_brazil_my_blood_is_ruby_red_and_black/

    Ad Age/Creativity Editor’s pick:
    ︎︎︎ https://adage.com/creativity/work/my-blood-red-and-black/28502
    ︎︎︎ https://adage.com/creativity/work/zap-epic/2209676
    ︎︎︎ https://adage.com/creativity/work/original-parts-1/26520
    ︎︎︎ https://adage.com/creativity/work/cbn-condemnations/953106

    Ad Age/Creativity Publications:
    ︎︎︎ https://adage.com/creativity/work/donateforpriscila/46476
    ︎︎︎ https://adage.com/creativity/work/aint-cute/46770
    ︎︎︎ https://adage.com/creativity/work/street-tales/35454
    ︎︎︎ https://adage.com/creativity/work/sweet-news-pregnant/38198
    ︎︎︎ https://adage.com/creativity/work/sweet-news-christmas/38199

    Shots
    ︎︎︎ https://www.shots.net/news/view/every-electric-socket-in-the-world-becomes-an-exclusive-gateway-to-the-volvo-c40

    Adforum Interview
    ︎︎︎ https://www.adforum.com/interviews/energy-bbdo-sao-paulo-show-your-humanity-empathy

    Lüerzer’s Archive
    ︎︎︎ https://www.luerzersarchive.com/en/magazine/web-detail/the-lucky-black-cat-65513.html
    ︎︎︎ https://www.luerzersarchive.com/en/magazine/commercial-detail/kleenex-32683.html
    ︎︎︎ https://www.luerzersarchive.com/en/search.html

    Communication Arts
    ︎︎︎ https://www.commarts.com/project/15316/fiat
    ︎︎︎ https://www.commarts.com/project/15321/fiat
    ︎︎︎ https://www.commarts.com/project/15320/fiat
    ︎︎︎ https://www.commarts.com/project/15495/hemoba

    Meio e Mensagem 30 under 30
    ︎︎︎ https://talento.meioemensagem.com.br/homenageados/joao-caetano-brasil/