
A lean, mean advertising machine
Luca Gallarelli 26 Jun 2015
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×Luca was appointed deputy managing director of Ogilvy & Mather Cape Town in 2012 and became MD on 1 November 2013. Since taking over the reins of South Africa's top ad agency, Luca has prioritised a successful drive for new business and finding fresh ways to ensure that the agency stays nimble and responsive to the dynamic digital environment.
Born in Port Elizabeth, Luca went to Grey High School and varsity at NMMU where he completed a Computer Science degree. He came to Cape Town to do a Post Graduate Higher Diploma at the AAA School of Advertising, but some say he has never really left the Eastern Cape.
Luca describes his year at AAA as "fantastic" and it resulted in an account management position with, what was then called, Ogilvy & Mather Rightford Searle-Tripp & Makin.
Aside from a two year stint at The Jupiter Drawing Room, Luca has been smoking from the David Ogilvy pipe ever since.
On his return to Ogilvy & Mather Cape Town from TJDR in 2007, Luca became Business Director on a portfolio of brands including Kraft/Cadbury and SAB Miller.
In 2009 Luca was appointed to the Ogilvy Cape board and took responsibility for the extensive repositioning of Carling Black Label - the largest SAB Miller brand by volume worldwide. He oversaw a major turnaround with the brand regaining volume growth after years in decline, a process which included the innovative 'Be The Coach' campaign which was South Africa's most awarded advertising campaign for 2012 and was a standout on the global stage as well.
A passionate advertising man, Luca is stimulated by the craft, diversity, contradictions, and ever-changing dynamics of our industry.
When he's not working, Luca's usually doting over his new son, improving his handicap on the golf course and scheming ways to get back to the centre of the known universe, Port Elizabeth.