{"id":1023,"date":"2022-01-24T14:16:43","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T12:16:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/machete.co.za\/machete-custom-theme\/?page_id=1023"},"modified":"2025-12-05T09:15:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T07:15:24","slug":"nicholas-shepherd","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/machete.co.za\/machete-custom-theme\/our-team\/nicholas-shepherd\/","title":{"rendered":"Nicholas Shepherd"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” equal_height=”yes” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”1964″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”Fade In” animation_easing=”default” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Director General” font_container=”tag:h5|text_align:left|color:%23bfbfbf” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1643025475077{margin-bottom: 10px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”I\u2019m Nicholas Shepherd,
\nCreative & Managing Director” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:40|text_align:left|line_height:50px” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1643025513749{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]My love for literature and languages led me to study English and French at UCT. But by the time I\u2019d completed an MA\u00a0cum laude<\/em>, I was sick of academia. I wanted to do, and I wasn\u2019t ready to write, so I worked in dance, theatre and film, and got my hands dirty as a clapper loader and grip.[\/vc_column_text]\n\t\t
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Copywriting<\/p>\n\t\t\t

95<\/i>%<\/strong> <\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Creative Direction<\/p>\n\t\t\t

90<\/i>%<\/strong> <\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Brand Strategy<\/p>\n\t\t\t

80<\/i>%<\/strong> <\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Digital Marketing<\/p>\n\t\t\t

78<\/i>%<\/strong> <\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Superbru<\/p>\n\t\t\t

76<\/i>%<\/strong> <\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”35″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” equal_height=”yes” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Work Experience” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:40|text_align:left|line_height:50px” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1643025919713{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]\n
\n
\n

In the mid 80\u2019s however, changes to the tax regime nearly sunk the South African film industry, just when I needed to start bringing home the bacon on a regular basis for my young family. So it was time for a real job with regular salary. One copy test and one interview later and I had my own office as a copywriter at Young and Rubicam. My 30 year journey into ad land had begun\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

After cutting my teeth on brands like Caltex, Gabriel Shock Absorbers, Musica and Metropolitan Life, I moved to J. Walter Thompson and, after a complicated three-way merger, became Copy Chief of Addison Want JWT, where I formed part of the pitch-winning Nike creative team in 1995.<\/p>\n

In 2002, after a stint as Creative Director at AdMakers, then at Amperzand, it was time to\u00a0 pursue my vision of an agency in which creatives were motivated by a love for what they do, and I founded Machete. Fifteen years later I\u2019m still wearing two pith helmets, acting as both Managing and Creative Director.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m fortunate to have won a number of significant creative awards, including the Grand Award for Creative Excellence at the New York Festival of Advertising.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][nectar_btn size=”medium” button_style=”see-through-2″ hover_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” text=”Back To Team” url=”https:\/\/machete.co.za\/machete-custom-theme\/our-team\/”][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”When I\u2019m not working” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:40|text_align:left|line_height:50px” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1643025961112{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]\n

    \n
  • \u00a0Love reading and mountain-biking and walking the dogs<\/li>\n
  • My wife and I have just taken up Latin dancing classes<\/li>\n
  • Despite being a pescetarian, I love braaing at home with the family<\/li>\n
  • Followed by dancing on the stoep!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”What I love about what I do” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:40|text_align:left|line_height:50px” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1643026008416{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]\n
      \n
    • That Aha! moment when a concept cracks open to reveal the kernel of an idea<\/li>\n
    • Getting to know a client\u2019s business as well as your own<\/li>\n
    • Watching Google conversions happen in real-time<\/li>\n
    • Knowing your ideas have helped a business grow<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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