Tony Grigg

CEO

Graduating with a degree in Economic and Social History, Tony was seduced into advertising by what he considers to be the best recruitment ad ever: ‘We will do for the Graduate what the Graduate did for Dustin Hoffman.’

While the advertiser’s in-house marketing department didn’t live up to its claim, Tony was hooked. He moved agency-side to F John French, which became Osprey Communications, swiftly rising to Board level.

He was headhunted to Ogilvy, where he was responsible first for Ford’s Retail Unit, then Ford of Britain and Ford of Europe, before taking the global reins in 2008. Instrumental in formulating the concept and business plan that became Blue Hive, Tony also sits on the Ogilvy Worldwide Board.

Married with two daughters, Tony loves sport, cars, gadgets and is a keen cyclist.

Paul Confrey

Managing Director

Paul’s career began at GM UK where he became their youngest ever car line Marketing Manager and Brand Manager. In 1999, he introduced the world’s first online car purchase system which, among his other innovations, has been profiled in several marketing tomes.

In 2001, Paul joined Wunderman as Strategic Planning Director for EMEA, working on Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Unilever, Caterpillar and IBM. Later focused solely on Ford, Paul became Managing Partner then Managing Director for EMEA. He also sat on the Y&R Group Global Ford Executive Committee and the Wunderman EMEA Board before joining Blue Hive at launch.

A proud dad of two and proud owner of a Vintage ’69 Gibson Flying V guitar, Paul ‘rocks out’ in his spare time with his band, The Out of Sorts.

Phil Teeman

Global Media Director and Head of Planning

Phil began his career in 1988 at WCRS before moving to O&M, where he became Director of O&M Media and Media Director for the Czech Republic.

In 1998, Phil was hired as VP of Advertising Sales EMEA at Discovery Networks. Sales income quadrupled and several new European offices were established.

After five years, he returned to WPP, helping Mindshare grow its Unilever business to encompass 35 markets. He was also instrumental in retaining the account during the industry’s largest-ever pitch. In 2010, Phil joined Blue Hive with responsibility for Global Media and European Planning and sits on the Mindshare Worldwide ExCo.

Married with two children, Phil lets his hair down by burning through the leafy lanes of Kent on his pride and joy: a KTM 950 Supermoto.

Karin Onsager-Birch

Executive Creative Director

Karin spent the bulk of her career in one place – Goodby Silverstein & Partners, AD Age’s ‘Agency of the Decade’. During her tenure she worked on accounts that creative people dream about – Nike, Adobe, Haagen-Dazs, and Porsche. In addition to winning honors from Cannes, Clios, The One Show, The Library of Congress and more, she loves pitching accounts and loves winning them even more. Recently she was deeply involved in the successful rebranding of Hyundai and the turnaround of Chevrolet’s image as environmentally responsible.

Half Norwegian, half Mexican, Karin grew up speaking Spanish, Norwegian, Danish, English and French and on good days can fake Italian and German.

On her own time she loves to travel with her husband and teenagers and occasionally dabbles in politically inflammatory filmmaking.

Greg Burke

Executive Creative Director (Global)

Born in Jo’burg, Greg spent over 30 prolific years in the South African ad industry – many of them at Ogilvy/RS-TM. While forging his creative reputation, he also gained extensive management experience on the board of Ogilvy Cape Town (as joint ECD) and then Ogilvy South Africa.

Greg has won numerous awards, including Cannes Gold, Silver and Bronze, and eight Loerie Grand Prix. His proudest moments are when Ogilvy South Africa was named Ad Age’s Global Agency of the Year – twice.

Joining Blue Hive from Ogilvy London, Greg has already created a portfolio of memorable work, including the global launch campaign for the new Focus – Ford’s first global car.

Aside from his passion for advertising, Greg’s a sports addict, music fan, avid reader, keen gardener and proud parent of two daughters.

Joelle Stanford

Finance Director

Armed with an International Business Studies degree, Joelle initially entered the world of auditing. Although she gained ‘invaluable’ experience (qualifying as a Chartered Accountant), the media world was more alluring and she joined WPP in 1998.

Joelle was quickly promoted from Financial Accountant at WPP to Financial Controller at Ogilvy, before becoming Finance Director at United London. She has since held similar Board Level posts at design agencies Landor and Coley Porter Bell, and at Ogilvy Primary Contact.

At each of them, Joelle has established initiatives that have delivered more efficient processes, great cost-efficiencies and, of course, profit.

Alongside her devotion to Blue Hive, Joelle is a devoted mum to twin daughters. So it’s no wonder she states her interests out of the office as simply ‘Twins’.

Ivan Mason

Global Operations Director

After a false start in stock control and logistics, Ivan joined the Wakefield Chegwin agency as an Account Exec in 1992. Ambitions ignited, he moved to Osprey Park, then Publicis Technology where he ran the Pan-Euro Olivetti account.

Joining Ogilvy in 1999, on Ford’s Dealer Business, Ivan later led the European Small Car, Commercial Vehicles and UEFA Champions League sponsorship teams and went on to run the £60m Ford of Britain business. He also worked on Berghaus and SABMiller.

At Blue Hive, Ivan is part of Global Team Ford. He has recently overseen 50 TV ads, 28 print and countless digital executions for the worldwide Focus launch – so his logistics background came in handy after all!

Married with two children, he enjoys squash, ‘the occasional run’ and cooking.