I am an award-winning integrated creative director with over 20 years of experience leading high-performance teams across the Middle East, Asia and South America. To me, communication is about turning the right strategy into lively ideas that connect brands with people, across any channel—from concept development to deployment, and from brand design and stewardship to social media, events, PR, film and visual development. Throughout my career I have led creative work for some of the world's most recognized agencies, including Ogilvy, Grey, Leo Burnett, Geometry, VMLY&R MENA and VMLY&R London, and I have steered accounts for Philip Morris, BAT, Huawei, Nestlé, Pernod Ricard, J&J, Twitter, Castrol and Uber, among others. In the last few years I’ve collaborated closely with UAE government entities, winning pitches for initiatives like the Abu Dhabi Awards, Abu Dhabi Department of Culture & Tourism, Dubai Roads & Transport Authority and Dubai Taxi Corporation. I’ve built extensive experience managing complex, multi-agency projects across the GCC and broader Asia-Pacific, from KSA and UAE to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, the Levant, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Pakistan, Myanmar, Indonesia and Greater China. I’m a dreamer who doesn’t rest until the work is done, and I’m deeply passionate about art direction and crafting experiences that resonate with people while staying on trend and culturally relevant.

Mauricio Sanaiote

I am an award-winning integrated creative director with over 20 years of experience leading high-performance teams across the Middle East, Asia and South America. To me, communication is about turning the right strategy into lively ideas that connect brands with people, across any channel—from concept development to deployment, and from brand design and stewardship to social media, events, PR, film and visual development. Throughout my career I have led creative work for some of the world's most recognized agencies, including Ogilvy, Grey, Leo Burnett, Geometry, VMLY&R MENA and VMLY&R London, and I have steered accounts for Philip Morris, BAT, Huawei, Nestlé, Pernod Ricard, J&J, Twitter, Castrol and Uber, among others. In the last few years I’ve collaborated closely with UAE government entities, winning pitches for initiatives like the Abu Dhabi Awards, Abu Dhabi Department of Culture & Tourism, Dubai Roads & Transport Authority and Dubai Taxi Corporation. I’ve built extensive experience managing complex, multi-agency projects across the GCC and broader Asia-Pacific, from KSA and UAE to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, the Levant, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Pakistan, Myanmar, Indonesia and Greater China. I’m a dreamer who doesn’t rest until the work is done, and I’m deeply passionate about art direction and crafting experiences that resonate with people while staying on trend and culturally relevant.

Available to hire

I am an award-winning integrated creative director with over 20 years of experience leading high-performance teams across the Middle East, Asia and South America. To me, communication is about turning the right strategy into lively ideas that connect brands with people, across any channel—from concept development to deployment, and from brand design and stewardship to social media, events, PR, film and visual development.

Throughout my career I have led creative work for some of the world’s most recognized agencies, including Ogilvy, Grey, Leo Burnett, Geometry, VMLY&R MENA and VMLY&R London, and I have steered accounts for Philip Morris, BAT, Huawei, Nestlé, Pernod Ricard, J&J, Twitter, Castrol and Uber, among others. In the last few years I’ve collaborated closely with UAE government entities, winning pitches for initiatives like the Abu Dhabi Awards, Abu Dhabi Department of Culture & Tourism, Dubai Roads & Transport Authority and Dubai Taxi Corporation. I’ve built extensive experience managing complex, multi-agency projects across the GCC and broader Asia-Pacific, from KSA and UAE to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, the Levant, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Pakistan, Myanmar, Indonesia and Greater China. I’m a dreamer who doesn’t rest until the work is done, and I’m deeply passionate about art direction and crafting experiences that resonate with people while staying on trend and culturally relevant.

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Language

English
Fluent
Spanish; Castilian
Fluent
Portuguese
Fluent

Work Experience

Global Creative Director at VMLY&R
May 1, 2022 - February 1, 2026
Global Creative Director based in London, overseeing high-performance creative teams across regions and guiding award-winning campaigns for major brands.
Creative Director at VMLY&R/Geometry MENA
April 1, 2019 - April 1, 2022
Creative Director leading creative accounts for the Middle East and North Africa, driving concept development, brand design and integrated campaigns.
Creative Director at BrandX China
October 1, 2018 - April 1, 2019
Creative Director in Shanghai leading brand design and integrated campaigns with local and global teams.
Creative Director at Geometry Hong Kong
December 1, 2016 - October 1, 2018
Creative Director delivering cross-border campaigns and design direction for regional clients.
Senior Art Director at Leo Burnett Brasil
June 1, 2010 - December 1, 2016
Senior Art Director directing creative output for major Brazilian brands, mentoring teams.
Senior Art Director at Agência Bug
January 1, 2010 - June 1, 2010
Senior Art Director delivering campaigns for local clients.
Creative Director at Pingpong
February 1, 2008 - April 1, 2010
Creative Director overseeing integrated campaigns and design across multiple channels.
Art Director at Power 4
April 1, 2006 - February 1, 2008
Art Director crafting visual identities and campaigns.
Art Director at OgilvyAction Brasil
April 1, 2005 - April 1, 2006
Art Director creating brand experiences and advertising campaigns.
Art Director at G2 / Grey Brasil
July 1, 2003 - April 1, 2005
Art Director working on integrated campaigns for diverse clients.
Junior Art Director at Bullet
July 1, 2002 - July 1, 2003
Junior Art Director contributing to creative campaigns and design work.

Education

Advertising at Universidade de São Paulo
January 1, 1998 - January 1, 2002

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Professional Services