Thomas Hayo

Thomas was born and raised in Germany, where he studied visual communications (Graphic design, film and photography) at the Academy of Arts in Darmstadt, before starting his advertising career at Springer & Jacoby in Hamburg, where he worked on multiple accounts including Mercedes-Benz.

In 1993 he moved to New York City and soon became one of the youngest Associate Creative Directors at J. Walter Thompson looking after accounts such as Kodak, Clairol, Rolex, De Beers, Pepsi-Lotion, The Wall Street Journal and Warner-Lambert International.

Furthermore, he has continuously produced award.winning work on many public service accounts throughout his career such as The American Red Cross, Child-Hunger, SUV Safety Council and the Partnership for a Drug Free America, for which he has been personally recognized by former President Bill Clinton.

He has worked with some of the most respected directors such as Frank Budgen, Joe Pytka, Ivan Zacharias, David Fincher, Michel Gondry and some of the highest regarded photographers such as Richard Avedon, Nick Knight, Solve Sundsbo, Glenn Luchford, Nadav Kander and James Nachtwey, as well as numerous musical artists ranging from The Chemical Brothers to the London Symphony Orchestra.

During the last two years he has worked as a freelance Creative Director on the most diverse projects, from re-launching Justin Timberlake's clothing line „William Rast" to co-creating and directing a part of the Sundance Film Festival „New Frontiers" program.