Novelist, dramatist and advertising visionary

John Hunt was born in Zambia, educated mostly in South Africa and has worked all over the world. He has written three critically acclaimed novels: THE SPACE BETWEEN THE SPACE BETWEEN, THE BOY WHO COULD KEEP A SWAN IN HIS HEAD, and YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW. THE BOY was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Fiction Prize and has been published in Arabic.

In addition, John has authored THE ART OF THE IDEA, a classic work that celebrates how ideas can change your life. Published in America and South Africa, the book has since been translated into a number of languages and has been reprinted many times.

John has also written four plays for the theatre, all of which have been produced. VID ALEX, a play that examined censorship during the apartheid years, earned him the Playwright of the Year award.

In his other life, John co-founded the multi-award-winning agency Hunt Lascaris and was intimately involved in Nelson Mandela’s election campaign. Once South Africa emerged into the warm light of democracy, the agency was acquired by the worldwide communications group TBWA. John moved to New York to become its Global Creative Director.

During this time, TBWA was voted Network of the Year several times and John served as President of the Cannes jury. He returned to Johannesburg and is now Worldwide Creative Chair of TBWA. In 2022, John was the first person from the African continent to be inducted into The One Club Creative Hall of Fame in New York.