FOUNDER · CREATIVE DIRECTOR
AHMER
KALAM.
Thirty years building some of the world’s biggest brands, from Chase, Intel and Mastercard to Marriott and Citibank. Now he brings that firepower to founders, foundations and movements.
$10B+
in media behind the work he has led
42
countries his work has reached
3
global agency networks, led from the top
99+
advertising awards
- NOW
- Founder & Creative Director, Design Hierarchy
- NETWORKS
- Young & Rubicam (WPP) · McCann (IPG) · mcgarrybowen (Dentsu)
- RECOGNITION
- Two Emmy nominations · Cannes Lions · Clios · MoMA
THE FOUNDER
BIG BRANDS.
BIGGER IDEAS.
For more than two decades Ahmer held senior creative roles at three of the world’s largest agency networks, leading work for JPMorgan Chase, Intel, Mastercard, Marriott, Citibank and AT&T.
He has launched a company on the biggest IPO of its year, relaunched a global hotel brand across 3,300 hotels, and turned a bank’s digital tools into the headline of its advertising. His work has earned two Emmy nominations, Cannes Lions and Clios, and is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Today he leads Design Hierarchy, bringing the same scale of thinking to founders, foundations and movements: the Obama Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, Merck for Mothers and more.
SELECTED WINS
WORK THAT
MOVED MARKETS.
JPMORGAN CHASE · MCGARRYBOWEN · 2011–2015
TOOK AMERICA’S
BIGGEST BANK
DIGITAL.
As Executive Creative Director on JPMorgan Chase, Ahmer led creative across retail and business banking, credit cards, sponsorships and Private Client, with 40+ creatives and 100 account professionals.
His Chase Masters campaign made Chase’s digital tools the hero, moving customers to mobile banking. It starred Serena Williams, fencing champion Tim Morehouse and The Rockettes, directed by Brian Beletic and shot by cinematographer Bradford Young, with effects by The Mill.
GENWORTH FINANCIAL · 2004
LAUNCHED ON
THE YEAR’S
BIGGEST IPO.
When GE spun off its insurance business as Genworth Financial, Ahmer helped launch the new brand to the world, with Andre Agassi as its face.
Genworth’s $2.8 billion IPO was the largest in the United States in 2004, ahead of Google’s. A brand that didn’t exist the year before had to earn trust on day one.
MASTERCARD · MCCANN
MADE THE CITY
PRICELESS.
At McCann, Ahmer launched Mastercard’s Priceless Cities and created a look the brand still uses today.
HOLIDAY INN · MCCANN · 2010
RELAUNCHED
3,300 HOTELS.
Ahmer launched Holiday Inn’s global identity campaign, introducing a $1 billion relaunch across more than 3,300 hotels worldwide.
“Stay You” ran on television, print, digital and outdoor across the US, the UK, Germany, Canada, Latin America, Asia and Australia.
YOUNG & RUBICAM · 1996–2006
FROM ART
DIRECTOR TO
MoMA.
At Y&R New York Ahmer rose from art director to Executive Creative Director, leading high-profile accounts across 17 countries and 46 languages.
His work for Pella and Computer Associates entered the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Clients included Citibank, AT&T, Showtime, Kraft Foods, Cadbury Schweppes and Pepperidge Farm.
KIND WORDS
FROM THE PEOPLE
WHO RAN THE SHOP.
“A true gentleman.”
“A great eye and a big heart.”
“On a scale of one to ten, he’s an 11.5.”
TODAY
BIG-BRAND FIREPOWER.
FOUNDER-LEVEL FOCUS.
Design Hierarchy is small by design. Clients work directly with Ahmer, who brings in the right talent for each project and stays close to the work.