Creative Director/Copywriter
You Say Hello And I Say Olá,
I like to say that my career goes back to a grandfather I never met. He was a copywriter, too. Listening to the stories my father used to tell about him made me want to follow in his footsteps.
When I was 25 years old, together with my best friend from college, Victor Bustani and Raphu Oliviera created the Nivea Protection Ad, Brazil’s first Mobile Grand Prix in Cannes. We couldn’t get there on time for the stage, but we surely got there on time to get drunk at the Martinez.
The next year, again with Victor and some other fantastic creatives, we created one of the most awarded campaigns of the year and one the most successful case studies of NIVEA Brazil; the NIVEA DOLL. That time, fortunately, we got there on time for the stage :)
After four fantastic years working at FCB Brazil under Max Geraldo and Joanna Monteiro, I decided it was time to move. Barely speaking english but filled with passion and ambition, I accepted an invitation from Andreas Dahlqvist to work at Grey New York, in a group led by the nicest duo Marco Pupo and Joao Coutinho. 6 months later, we won 4 lions helping the agency become the second most awarded agency of the year.
By the end of 2017, PJ Pereira called me to invite me to a position at Pereira O'Dell SF, where I would partner with the amazing art director/creative director Estefanio Holtz. Six months later, we won three lions, including a gold lion.
In 2019, I was selected to represent the USA in the Young Lions film competition. Also, after three years at POD, working from both the SF and NYC offices, winning lions every year, and winning new businesses like Adobe, MINI, and Coca-Cola, I decided to accept an invitation from Sean, Tom, and Shayne Millington to work at McCann NYC, where I had a short but sweet time working on global projects for brands like Microsoft, Mastercard, and Fuji Instax.
After my time at McCann, I spent two years at Vayner Media. Partnering with the super talented Felipe Pavani, I had the opportunity to work on projects I'm really proud of, such as the LIFEWTR & LeBron partnership, Pepsi Soda Shop, and especially the launch of New Pepsi Zero Sugar during Super Bowl LVII, one of Pepsi's latest hits.
Since I started working as a freelancer, I've had the opportunity to work with amazing people at different agencies around the world. With my friends Pupo and Ccoutinho at Atlantic, Leo Burnett Chicago, BBDO LA, Publicis Toronto, and many more. And, at the beginning of 2024, my good friend Gabriel Schmitt from Grey invited me to work on a very special project for Corona Cero: promoting their Olympic sponsorship, the first time a beer brand has done so. This is the project I am currently working on right now.
Many people say that the ad industry has lost its glamour and things are not how they used to be. I truly think there is no better time to work in advertising than now, and I couldn’t be more excited for what's coming next. If you want to know a little more about me, to talk about classic movies or Brazilian politics, feel free to call me or drop me a line.
acr.bittar@gmail.com
+1 917 769 3252
Agencies:
Freelance Creative Director ( August 2023- Current)
VaynerMedia (August 2021 - August 2023)
McCANN NYC (November 2019 - August 2021 )
PEREIRA & O'DELL NYC/SF (November 2016 - November 2019)
GREY NY (December 2015 - November 2016)
FCB BRAZIL (November 2011 - November 2015)
DPZ&T BRAZIL/Internship (September 2010 -November 2011)
*In 2021, I was part of the One School mentorship program as a mentor and part of the Soundboard for Creatives initiative, by the Spotify.
Awards and Recognition:
I'm very proud that my work has been recognized in major festivals, such as CANNES LIONS, D&AD, ONE SHOW, CLIO, ANDY, ART DIRECTOR'S CLUB, THE WEBBY, GUNN REPORT (Outstanding Campaigns in Media 2014), THE BIG WON REPORT 2014 (12º campaign across all media channels), THE GOOD REPORT ( The best cause-related ad campaigns in 2016 by GUNN REPORT). I also represented TEAM USA in the Young Lions 2019 Film competition. My work was featured on Good Morning America, Late Late Show with James Corden, ABC, CBS, People Magazine Fox News, CNN, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Billboard, Rollings Stones, Le Figaro, Gizmodo, Business Insider, Daily Mail UK, Babble Disney, Adweek and Adage.
CANNES LIONS: 26 Lions, including Brazil's first Mobile Grand Prix.
2024: 3 Shortlists (Design, Digital Craft, Entertainment for Music)
2022: 1 Silver Lion, 1 Shortlist. (Entertainment, Pharma)
2019: 1 Bronze Lion, 6 Shortlists. (Social & Influencer, Branded Content, Direct, Film Craft)
2018: 1 Bronze Lion, 3 Shortlists. (Film, Film Craft, Cannes Lion For Good)
2017: 1 Gold Lion, 2 Bronze Lions, 3 Shortlists. (Design, Product Design, Glass, Branded Content)
2016: 1 Gold Lion, 1 Silver Lion, 3 Bronze Lions, 5 Shortlists. (PR, Promo, Outdoor, Film, Direct)
2015: 2 Gold Lions, 3 Silver Lions, 3 Bronze Lions, 7 Shortlists. (Promo, Direct, Health, Outdoor, Product Design, Media)
2014: 1 Grand Prix, 2 Gold Lions, 2 Silver Lions, 2 Bronze Lions and 5 Shortlists. (Mobile, Media, Promo, Direct, Cyber, Innovation)
D&AD/D&AD IMPACT: 10 Pencils.
2020: 1 Yellow Pencil, 1 Graphite Pencil.
2017: 1 Wood Pencil.
2016: 2 Graphite Pencils, 3 Wood Pencils.
2015: 2 Wood Pencils.
THE ONE SHOW: 6 Pencils.
2020: 6 merits.
2019: 2 Merits and One Screen.
2018: 1 Merit.
2017: 1 Bronze.
2016: 2 Golds, 1 Silver, 2 Bronzes, 5 merits.
2015: 3 Merits
CLIO: 11 Awards.
2021: 1 Bronze.
2019: 1 Bronze.
2017: 1 Bronze.
2015: 2 Golds, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze.
2014: 2 Silvers, 2 Bronzes
ART DIRECTORS CLUB: 4 Awards.
2016: 1 Gold, 2 Silvers.
2015: 1 Silver.
ANDY AWARD: 5 Awards.
2016: 2 Golds.
2015: 2 Silvers, 1 Bronze.
LIA AWARDS: 4 Awards.
2016: 1 Bronze.
2014: 1 Silver, 2 Bronzes
EL OJO: 1 Grand Prix, 7 Golds and 3 Silvers.
EL SOL: Grand Prix and 4 Golds.
AdWeek's the best inventions of the year 2017/2016.
WAVE: Best of Show, 1 Grand Prix, 6 Golds, 2 Silvers.
The best advice I ever got was from my father, a photojournalist. He said "It's impossible to make journalism without a clear point of view and opinion." I believe this applies to advertising as well.