"Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away."
Elvis Presley
Hello. My name is
Gordon Gerard McLean.
PLANNER
EMPATH
MENTOR
NOMAD
NIGHT OWL
So I’m the one behind the mystery moniker. Here’s a bit about me. I’ve spent 20+ years as a strategic planner in a variety of creative companies; in Sheffield, London, Istanbul, New York, and most recently with Apple in Cupertino, CA.
I’m fortunate to have helped launch, build and reinvent some of the world’s best brands; including Apple, Bacardi, Bank of Scotland, Bing, Bombay Sapphire, EA Games, GE, Gillette, Grey Goose, Guayakí Yerba Mate, Guinness, Halifax, Hilton, Holiday Inn Express, HSBC, Radisson, Sandy Hook Promise, SAP, ServiceNow, Vodafone, and Wells Fargo.
I’ve also been lucky enough to lead a body of work that's been recognized for its commercial impact by the IPA and Effies, for its strategic thinking by the Jay Chiats and ARF, for its cultural impact by the MoMA, Emmys and TED, and for its creative excellence by The Clios, One Show, Cannes Lions, D&AD, and others.
Now based in LA, I fly solo under my nom de plan, Fear No Truth; helping agency, start-up, and marketing leaders, wherever they are, to find, tell and manage their brands’ true stories.
Gordon is undoubtedly one of the best planners I have ever worked with. As well as being an intellectual 'big thinker' he's very down to earth and can deliver insights that will connect to the human beings we're communicating with, and that
always inspire creative teams.
Nigel Edginton-Vigus
Creative Director, JWT London
FAQs
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
(WELL SOME OF THEM)
Assume nothing. Avoid the middle ground. Explore the edges. Never be slightly something, when you could be very something. Stick your neck out. Find convention. Reject convention. Challenge what the world needs less of. Champion what the world needs more of. Avoid jargon. Simplify. Share. Be nice. Find the dots. Join the dots. Honor the brand’s soul. Bring a beginner’s mind. Don’t play all the notes. Listen twice as much as you talk. Avoid jargon. Bring some structure to the chaos. But know when to ride the wild wave. Make it creative. But keep it brief.
Gordon's experience, and his rare talent for the interesting, makes him a citizen of the world. Working alongside him, you come to appreciate his heart for brands; a big one at that. Terrifyingly insightful, he paints possibilities for a brand that makes you take a deep breath before the ride.
Paul Vinod, Creative Director
BBDO Worldwide
Featured POST