MAYA KHORCHID
Hamburg
Summary
Award-winning multi-cultural creative leader with over a decade of experience, a strong sense of strategy and a better sense of humor. Copy-based and coffee-fueled, excels in concept development, building teams to deliver the best, and parachuting into brand emergencies. Cross-cultural, highly adaptable, and highly awarded by Cannes Lions, D&AD, New York Festivals, Dubai Lynx, Warc and more. Comes with dual Lebanese / British citizenship, and 4 language settings.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Global Creative Director
Publicis One Touch
Hamburg
09.2023 - Current
- Spearheaded global creative strategy and execution for NIVEA’s Body and Care innovation launches, driving modular 360° campaign development for global rollout.
- Led the creation of integrated campaign assets across TV, social media, and digital - tailored for native performance on YouTube, Meta, TikTok, and other platforms.s.
- Directed large-scale international productions and complex shoots, ensuring global creative consistency, with local relevance.
- Delivered fully integrated toolkits—from cinematic TVCs to mobile-first content—balancing brand storytelling with flexible implementation for regional markets.
- Mentored art directors and copywriters, providing guidance on best practices and creative techniques.
- Led creative brainstorming sessions to generate impactful ideas.
Associate Creative Director
Impact BBDO
Dubai
05.2023 - 08.2024
- Led creative direction for key accounts, including Etihad Airways, agency's largest client.
- Named an Inspirational Woman in Advertising 2024 by the International Advertising Association.
- Generated big creative ideas that grew business, garnered fame and won awards.
- Led creative team meetings to share ideas and bring actionable plans to fruition.
- Developed creative concepts and strategies for integrated campaigns across multiple channels.
- Achieved over 45 million views in two weeks for an Etihad Airlines film featuring Manchester City F.C.
Associate Creative Director
Media Monks
Dubai
07.2021 - 10.2022
- Established first creative team in region, enhancing department's creative capabilities and processes across social and digital platforms.
- Led creative direction for Saudi Arabian mega-development NEOM, producing innovative native paid and organic assets across social media channels.
- Launched NEOM’s key projects across 11 markets and 7 social platforms.
- Led creative brainstorming sessions to generate innovative creative concepts.
- Mentored junior team members to enhance their creative skills and workflow efficiency.
Associate Creative Director
Leo Burnett
Dubai
12.2019 - 07.2021
- Led creative teams on key accounts across industries and sectors, including culture, tourism, and FMCG.
- Created the first Instagram count-up filter in collaboration with Meta.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align project goals and strategies.
- Managed timelines and resources for multiple concurrent projects efficiently.
- Led brainstorming sessions to generate new ideas for brand and product campaigns.
Creative
Freelance
01.2018 - 11.2019
- Creative consultancy and project-based contracts across a variety of top ranked global agencies, industries and clients across.
- Led and collaborated with diverse teams to transform strategies into effective ideas and powerful communication across channels.
- Worked with top global agencies including; Agencies VMLY&R, TBWA, Grey and Leo Burnett.
- Developed creative campaigns and led creative work on pitches for global brands across FMCG, banking, mobile, and luxury retail sectors, including McDonald's, Standard Chartered, Uber, and Louvre Abu Dhabi.
- Key projects include: Louvre Abu Dhabi: Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age integrated campaign (TBWA) and McDonald’s 2020 regional brand campaign, launched across eight markets (Leo Burnett).
Associate Creative Director
FP7 McCann
Dubai
12.2017 - 11.2018
- Developed brand guidelines to ensure consistent visual identity and messaging across all platforms.
- Developed creative concepts and strategies for integrated campaigns across multiple channels.
- Designed work that strongly communicated brand narratives, goals and concepts.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align project goals, strategies and creative output.
Senior Copywriter
J. Walter Thompson
Beirut
04.2014 - 04.2017
- Led the creative department on conceptualization and copy.
- Created effective work for local and international brands across industries, including Red Bull, Coca-Cola, VW.
- Developed compelling copy for integrated marketing campaigns across diverse media channels.
- Collaborated with designers and strategists to ensure cohesive brand messaging.
- Mentored junior copywriters, providing feedback on style and tone consistency.
- Presented creative concepts to clients, articulating strategic rationale behind creative choices.
Copywriter
Quantum Group
Beirut
03.2012 - 04.2014
- Worked across subsidiary agencies M&C Saatchi MENA, Quantum Communications and digital agency Mercury.
- Developed compelling copy for marketing campaigns and promotional materials across websites, apps, blogs, email campaigns, social media posts, print materials, radio spots and television commercials.
- Collaborated with design teams to create engaging content for social and digital platforms.
- Engaged with clients to understand brand voice and messaging requirements thoroughly.
- Edited and proofread content to ensure clarity and consistency across media and platforms.
Writer / Reporter & Producer
FUTURE TV
Beirut
08.2008 - 01.2012
- Produce, write, and report for the English News show, broadcast live daily across the Middle East and North Africa. Developed engaging content for television segments and online platforms.
- Developed engaging content for television.
- Researched topics thoroughly to provide accurate and relevant information.
- Edited scripts for clarity, grammar, and adherence to network guidelines.
Writer and Reporter
NOW Lebanon
Beirut
04.2009 - 08.2010
- Wrote feature articles and news pieces for the NOW Lebanon news platform.
- Articles were recurrently republished in the French weekly Courrier International, a subsidiary of the Le Monde newspaper.
- Collaborated with editors to refine and enhance written materials.
- Researched topics to ensure accuracy and relevance in writing.
- Generated ideas for new stories or topics to write about.
Producer, Writer + Reporter
CNN Arabia
Dubai
02.2008 - 04.2009
- Local-hire producer for Dubai-based news-gathering team, coordinating local video news coverage for CNN Arabic website.
- Conducted interviews and research for CNN flagship shows Inside the Middle East and Marketplace Middle East.
- Directed talent and crew to achieve desired performance and production quality.
- Generated original ideas and further developed ideas through research.
Education
Certificate - Writing for Fiction + Non-Fiction
University of The Arts London
London01.2017
Certificate - Designing Narratives for Event Experiences
University of The Arts London
London01.2017
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism + Political Science
Concordia University
Montreal01.2008
Certificate - Writing + Reporting for Television
Montreal Radio & TV School
Montreal01.2008
Skills
- Creative strategy
- Integrated campaign development
- Brand storytelling
- Team leadership development
- Client collaboration
- Stakeholder relations
- Idea generation
- Effective communication
- Concept development
- Strategic thinking
- Art direction
- Strategic leadership
Languages
English
First Language
Arabic
Proficient (C2)
C2
French
Proficient (C2)
C2
Italian
Proficient (C2)
C2
AWARDS
- Cannes Lions
- D&AD
- WARC
- Dubai Lynx
- Effies
- Clio Awards
- One Show
- Cresta
- Loeries
- New York Festivals
- Mena Cristal
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Global Creative Director
Publicis One Touch
09.2023 - Current
Associate Creative Director
Impact BBDO
05.2023 - 08.2024
Associate Creative Director
Media Monks
07.2021 - 10.2022
Associate Creative Director
Leo Burnett
12.2019 - 07.2021
Creative
Freelance
01.2018 - 11.2019
Associate Creative Director
FP7 McCann
12.2017 - 11.2018
Senior Copywriter
J. Walter Thompson
04.2014 - 04.2017
Copywriter
Quantum Group
03.2012 - 04.2014
Writer and Reporter
NOW Lebanon
04.2009 - 08.2010
Writer / Reporter & Producer
FUTURE TV
08.2008 - 01.2012
Producer, Writer + Reporter
CNN Arabia
02.2008 - 04.2009
Certificate - Writing for Fiction + Non-Fiction
University of The Arts London
Certificate - Designing Narratives for Event Experiences
University of The Arts London
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism + Political Science
Concordia University
Certificate - Writing + Reporting for Television
Montreal Radio & TV School
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