Campaign’s Creative Faces to Watch 2024 – Carl Khoury, Senior Copywriter, Memac Ogilvy Dubai
Age: 28
Nominated by Steve de Lange, Executive Creative Director:
Our industry is built on the backs of two kinds of people – those with the creative vision to dream up new ideas and those who through sheer grit and determination help see those ideas come to life.
Carl is that rarest of things – a serendipitous combination of both. His talent, imagination and inexhaustible work ethic are not just an asset but a beacon that inspires and energises those around him.
He’s very much a face to watch. And that’s not just because he has such a pretty face.
Career highlights
Writing has been a passion ever since I first scribbled rap lyrics as a confused 15-year-old. Most of us don’t know where we’re headed. I thought I’d be a rapper. And that dream is still alive in me -albeit buried under years of writing captions and emailers. My point is, always believe in the work you do. You can’t love all of it, but you can love the best parts. Writing scripts for brands like adidas, Canon, IKEA, Pepsi, working on campaigns, getting recognised on award stages. Even simple validation from your peers. These all make it worthwhile.
Guiding principles
Embrace things that scare you. When your stomach churns and your breath shortens and you’re overwhelmed and nervous and stressed and anxious, really, that’s a good thing. You’re stressed because you want to do well. And when you do well, you’re on top of the world.
Side hustle
I love film production. I love the rush, the quick thinking, the problem solving. I love getting my hands dirty, and doing everything I can to bring a director’s vision to life. I’ve got a few projects under my belt but aim for a lot more in the future.