Hi, I'm Shani, Creative, Strategist and Writer.
Creative and strategic expert, VP Creative & Strategy at Kendago Global Digital Marketing Group.
21 years of experience in advertising, creative direction, writing and creative strategy, 13 years of executive roles experience.
Created business and commercial success alongside award winning work for the largest Israeli local and global brands.
Among the clients I handled: Nestle, Wrigley, Schweppes, Opel, Audi, Volkswagen, Seat, Berlitz, Kimberly Clarck, Vshred Fitness, National Lottery, Poalim Bank, Pelephone Telecommunication, Ha’artez newspaper group, Israel railways and more.
I was also teaching advertising at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design for 5 years.
I am constantly looking for the next big idea, for new challenges and opportunities.
Alongside advertising, My creative passion finds its ways in poetry and visual arts, and I have published an acclaimed children's book, called 'The Sea is Free'. My work has been published in Maayan art magazine and daily newspaper ‘Yediot-Aharonot’. I wrote a weekly column at Time-Out Tel-Aviv Magazine and published articles at the opinion section of Ha’aretz newspaper. I also play chess and football.
2024 Google Creative Excellence Award Finalist
Google Premier Partner status - Ranked in the top 3% of advertisers globally
SNAP Innovators Roundtable Member
2024/23/22 - The Top YouTube Seller in Fitness
2022 #1 on Google for Ads on Shorts Placement
2021 #1 on Google for Ads YouTube placement2013 Clio Awards – Content and Contact Bronze Winner
2013 Cannes Lions Festival – Promo & Activation National Diploma
New York Festival – Direct Finalist
2012 New York Festival – Press Bronze Winner
Epica Awards – Press Bronze Medal
2011 Epica Awards – Film Silver Medal
2010 Cannes Lions Festival – Press Campaign Bronze Lion
2009 Cannes Lions Festival – 2 PR Finalists
2008 One Show Festival – Film Campaign Finalist
Cannes Lions Festival – 2 Film Finalists
2007 Clio Awards – Press Finalist
2006 Cannes Lions Festival – Film Finalist
Epica Awards – Film Silver Medal
London International Awards – Press Finalist
Israeli Effie Awards 2017 – Gold Effie, 2 Bronze Effies
2014 – Platinum Effie - 2nd place,
2013 – 2 Gold Effie, 1 Silver Effie
2012 – Gold Effie
Cactus, Israel’s Advertising Award Show – 8 Grand-Prix, 22 Gold, 24 Silver, 31 Bronze
Gold Fish, Israel’s Print Award Competition – 3 Grand-Prix, 1 Bronze, 11 Top10 Finalists
Shapam's Israeli Radio Advertising Competition – 2 Grand-Prix, 2 Bronze
Effie Awards – Platinum Effie, 3 Gold, 1 Silver
Creative Awards Jury
Cannes Lions 2018 - Brand Experience and Activation
Cannes Lions 2018 - Young Lions
New York Festivals – Jury
Creativepool Annual Awards 2022
Israeli Brand Awards - Jury since 2022
Granot Isreali Advertising Awards - Committee & jury since 2021
Cactus, Israel's Advertising Award – Committee member 2009-2019
Gold Fish, Israel's Print Award Competition – Jury
Shapam's Israeli Radio Advertising Competition – Jury
2020 - Today Kendago, VP Creative & Strategy
Kendago is a leading global digital group handling direct-to-consumer brands, focusing on performance marketing and advertising - sales targeted and data driven. As VP Creative & Strategy I lead a constantly growing team of more than 60 people, including Creative Directors, Strategists, Copywriters, Art Directors, Video Editors, Production and Creative Operations, half in Israel and half worldwide. In my role I initiated and created the agency's work processes and teams' structure (including work with the media department) and implemented them successfully, improving both efficiency and quality of work, achieving better creative products, increasing performance, revenue and profitability.
2018 - 2020 Ofek Credit Union, Chief Marketing Officer
OFEK is Israel's first Credit-Union and Co-operative banking initiative. As CMO, I was in charge of all strategy, marketing, communication, advertising and media of Ofek capital cooperative association, within budget limits and growth goals: Brand identity; Marketing strategy; Communication and advertising strategy and execution; Product, app, online presence and services; Design and UX; PR and spokesmen; Data analysis and audience profiling; Media strategy and execution; Recruiting team members and service providers.
2018 - Today Gershi Creative & Strategic Consulting
Creative and Strategic expert, advising and helping business clients and brands, and working with advertising agencies.
2016 - 2018 McCANN VALLEY, VP Creative
McCann Valley is a digital and new-media advertising agency based in Mitzpe Ramon. As VP Creative I Lead the creative team, was in charge for the creative products from initial concept to complete execution in all media platforms: online and offline, traditional and unorthodox, display and interactive, social and viral, products and applications, as well as print and TV, PR and branded content, Guerilla and integrated.
2015 - 2016 STADEOM, Project Partner
Stadeom was a startup video platform for publishers and brands, designed to improve their interaction with fans and users via video. As a Project partner I created, developed and marketed projects that use the platform in innovative ways as a new media form for publishers.
2015 - 2016 GERSHI Creative-Shop, Owner
Gershi Creative-shop specialized in unique branded-content projects, focusing on organic and not just media-driven exposure. As a founder I gathered partners from different disciplines, creative, production, PR and media monitoring, offering clients a new approach to branded content, which challenges the advertising agencies’ way of thinking, creatively and financially.
2011 - 2015 GITAM BBDO, Executive Creative Director (VP creative)
Led the creative, print studio and TV production departments, of 36 people. Among the clients I handled: Osem-Nestle, Israeli national lottery, Wrigley, Pepsi, Opel, Clal Insurance, Israeli Cancer Association and more. In 2011 I was also Executive Creative Planning Director (Creative-Planning VP), and served as the link between the strategy and creative departments, and during 2011 I incorporated this role into the Executive Creative Director position.
2008 - 2013 Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Lecturer
Taught Video advertising at the visual communications department.
2006 - 2011 ACW GREY Tel-Aviv, Project Creative Director, Creative-Planning Director
I Handled some long-time clients, such as: Schweppes, Berlitz, Ha’aretz newspaper publishing group. I also led campaigns I created for other clients of the agency, such as Seat, Hapoalim Bank, Pelephone and Bezeq Telecommunications and many more. I was also in charge of creative excellence of the agency and was responsible for creating initiative work for agency clients potential ones.
Between 2010-2011 I also served as Creative-Strategy Director.
2003 - 2006 ACW GREY Tel-Aviv, Copywriter -> Senior Copywriter
Was the most awarded copywriter in Israel. As a senior copywriter I was working directly under the ECD, teaming up with a different creative director and creative teams over major briefs and pitches.
Volunteering
Strategic & creative consultant for a Knesset (Israeli parliament) member, parties running for Knesset and social justice civil movement.
Education
2002-2004 Tel-Aviv University, M.A. Studies, Philosophy Department
2002-2003 ACC Habetzefer Copywriting School, Graduated with excellence
2001-2002 Bar-Ilan University, Computer Science studies
1996-2000 Bar-Ilan University Law School, L.L.B. Graduate
I believe that people, brands and companies who are convention-challenging, honest, bold and socially responsible are ultimately the most successful, sustainable and most importantly - happy.
