Gary Botten
Owner and Creative Partner at Verso Branding Agency- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Ximena O.
Whether internal or external, Gary is a client's dream creative partner. He is friendly, sincere, knowledgeable and exudes dependability. But these are superficial albeit true attributes which open the door to a potential collaboration. The real fire power ignites once a problem is put on the table. Gary is a dedicated designer and thus will leave no stone unturned until he has tackled it with all of his and his team's creative might. It has been a pleasure to see Gary hone his creative direction skills, build strong ties with internal clients and external creative partners, and see him pour his talent and energy into viable and creative solutions for our UK brands.
Belal Habib
Gary has qualities I am very grateful for in today's working age. He simplifies complex issues for a broad audience, he can genuinely translate ambiguous requests into targeted results with little rework required. He doesn't waste time and can articulate himself clearly. He is blessed with creativity and an energising personality. Most valuable for me besides the above were his work ethic, sense of accountability, complete competence in his subject matter and a very clear focus on translating what's needed into what's possible. Gary very quickly becomes THE go to person beyond his area of expertise and gets things done brilliantly. He has been the key figure behind some of Cadbury's major design successes. We now work in very different areas else I would take Gary into my team with my eyes shut. Anybody requiring a reference should contact me.
Ximena O.
Whether internal or external, Gary is a client's dream creative partner. He is friendly, sincere, knowledgeable and exudes dependability. But these are superficial albeit true attributes which open the door to a potential collaboration. The real fire power ignites once a problem is put on the table. Gary is a dedicated designer and thus will leave no stone unturned until he has tackled it with all of his and his team's creative might. It has been a pleasure to see Gary hone his creative direction skills, build strong ties with internal clients and external creative partners, and see him pour his talent and energy into viable and creative solutions for our UK brands.
Belal Habib
Gary has qualities I am very grateful for in today's working age. He simplifies complex issues for a broad audience, he can genuinely translate ambiguous requests into targeted results with little rework required. He doesn't waste time and can articulate himself clearly. He is blessed with creativity and an energising personality. Most valuable for me besides the above were his work ethic, sense of accountability, complete competence in his subject matter and a very clear focus on translating what's needed into what's possible. Gary very quickly becomes THE go to person beyond his area of expertise and gets things done brilliantly. He has been the key figure behind some of Cadbury's major design successes. We now work in very different areas else I would take Gary into my team with my eyes shut. Anybody requiring a reference should contact me.
Ximena O.
Whether internal or external, Gary is a client's dream creative partner. He is friendly, sincere, knowledgeable and exudes dependability. But these are superficial albeit true attributes which open the door to a potential collaboration. The real fire power ignites once a problem is put on the table. Gary is a dedicated designer and thus will leave no stone unturned until he has tackled it with all of his and his team's creative might. It has been a pleasure to see Gary hone his creative direction skills, build strong ties with internal clients and external creative partners, and see him pour his talent and energy into viable and creative solutions for our UK brands.
Belal Habib
Gary has qualities I am very grateful for in today's working age. He simplifies complex issues for a broad audience, he can genuinely translate ambiguous requests into targeted results with little rework required. He doesn't waste time and can articulate himself clearly. He is blessed with creativity and an energising personality. Most valuable for me besides the above were his work ethic, sense of accountability, complete competence in his subject matter and a very clear focus on translating what's needed into what's possible. Gary very quickly becomes THE go to person beyond his area of expertise and gets things done brilliantly. He has been the key figure behind some of Cadbury's major design successes. We now work in very different areas else I would take Gary into my team with my eyes shut. Anybody requiring a reference should contact me.
Ximena O.
Whether internal or external, Gary is a client's dream creative partner. He is friendly, sincere, knowledgeable and exudes dependability. But these are superficial albeit true attributes which open the door to a potential collaboration. The real fire power ignites once a problem is put on the table. Gary is a dedicated designer and thus will leave no stone unturned until he has tackled it with all of his and his team's creative might. It has been a pleasure to see Gary hone his creative direction skills, build strong ties with internal clients and external creative partners, and see him pour his talent and energy into viable and creative solutions for our UK brands.
Belal Habib
Gary has qualities I am very grateful for in today's working age. He simplifies complex issues for a broad audience, he can genuinely translate ambiguous requests into targeted results with little rework required. He doesn't waste time and can articulate himself clearly. He is blessed with creativity and an energising personality. Most valuable for me besides the above were his work ethic, sense of accountability, complete competence in his subject matter and a very clear focus on translating what's needed into what's possible. Gary very quickly becomes THE go to person beyond his area of expertise and gets things done brilliantly. He has been the key figure behind some of Cadbury's major design successes. We now work in very different areas else I would take Gary into my team with my eyes shut. Anybody requiring a reference should contact me.
Experience
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Verso Branding Agency
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United Kingdom
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Graphic Design
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1 - 100 Employee
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Owner and Creative Partner
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Apr 2013 - Present
Owner of Verso Creative, a nimble Staffordshire based Brand Design Agency with Award Winning clients. Our Creative Partnering approach allows us to ‘plug-in’ to existing businesses giving their brands the edge in design activation and strategic integrity. Applying 20 years of ‘leading’ FMCG experience to the growth of new and existing brands. A strategic thinker and creative mind with ability to spot the opportunity in a brand’s challenge and apply powerful design tactics to deliver compelling results. • Developing brand strategy • Creative thinking and problem solving • New brand development • Brand Vision and Tone of Voice • Brand planning and activation (across all media) • Creative direction and design development • Driving cross-functional efficiency • Delivering design effectiveness
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Mondelēz International
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United States
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Food and Beverage Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Manager, Design Team UK&I (Creative Director)
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Sep 2011 - Mar 2013
The leading food company in UK and Ireland with the most powerful household brands. Reporting to Director, Brand Design (Zurich). Responsible for leading a Design Team, full time staff and freelance, to deliver brand activation across packaging, POP and sales collateral for the Kraft UK&I business. • Creative direction and design strategy • Leading and directing a team of designers and responsible for packaging, POP and sales literature for the UK&I business • Creation and delivery of key design innovation projects for Kraft Foods Europe • Established design tools to guide inspirational design • Developing business relationships
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Design Team Manager (Creative Director)
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Jan 2010 - Sep 2011
One of the world’s most recognised confectionery brands and home of Cadbury Dairy Milk. Design Team Manager reporting to Design Studio Manager, managing a team of thirteen plus freelancers. • Creative direction and design strategy • Hands-on designer developing winning brand proposals • Driving cross-functional partnering to deliver ‘total design’ across product, structure and graphic • Re-structured the design team to deliver powerful brand strategy • Diligent people management
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Cadbury Trebor Bassett
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Food and Beverage Manufacturing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Senior Creative
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2000 - 2010
The UK confectionery arm of the FMCG giant Cadbury Schweppes. Senior Creative reporting to Head of Design, managing a team of three plus four indirect reports. • Lead designer creating and directing a core team of designers focussed on packaging and POP design • Developed and created a powerful brand realisation tool for brand redesign • Led a re-brand to FOUR Brand Communications helping secure external clients such as Duchy Originals • Creation and delivery of large scale design activity including Commonwealth Games activation and third-party licensed products.
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Packaging Designer
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1996 - 2000
The world’s third leading producer of soft drinks and fourth leading confectionery manufacturer. • Designer specialising in drinks and confectionery packaging The world’s third leading producer of soft drinks and fourth leading confectionery manufacturer. • Designer specialising in drinks and confectionery packaging
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