CHIQUITA KING AND ANT MELDER LAUNCH NEW INDIE AGENCY WITH A VOW TO DELIVER AUDACIOUS CREATIVITY AND A PROMISE TO DO GOOD IN THE WORLD

Respected business leader Chiquita King and renowned creative leader Ant Melder have launched a new full service independent creative agency, Coffee Cocoa Gunpowder. The full-service agency Coffee Cocoa Gunpowder will give 5% of profits to people in need, in perpetuity.

The elements in the agency’s name are both catalysts for change and signposts to creativity, humanity and an ambition to be audacious. Its ethos – ‘People Are Everything’ – sums up the kind of work it seeks to do, the way it does business and the way it gives back. The agency’s approach to work starts by seeing the world through the eyes of people not brands. In terms of business, Coffee Cocoa Gunpowder rejects unwieldy processes, bad service and mediocre outputs. And it will always donate 5% of its profits to sponsor individuals with potential whose progress is limited through circumstances, injustice or lack of basic resources.

The agency opens its doors with a foundation client which remains undisclosed for the immediate short term.

Chiquita King – better known as CK – is well known in the industry as a champion of people and ideas, with a passion for spotting, guiding and maximising potential. She started out in advertising in her native South Africa at the legendary hotshop The Jupiter Drawing Room. Moving to Australia in 2009, she built her digital and CX nous at Lavender before heading up the Optus account at M&C Saatchi. She subsequently ran the Westpac account at DDB where she led a series of highly-awarded brand campaigns created alongside some of the world’s most sought-after directors. CK is also a proud mum of three whose kids provide her with invaluable perspective on a daily basis.

Ant Melder has held creative leadership roles at world-class agencies in London and Sydney, including Saatchi & Saatchi, Iris, M&C Saatchi, DDB Sydney and, most recently, Host/Havas. In that time he’s created breakthrough work, built cultures and won pretty much every advertising award there is to win. He’s a member of the AWARD Committee and a director of the PatientSafe Network. A passionate advocate for diversity, he recently launched the Brown Riot podcast series, celebrating industry leaders from diverse backgrounds.

The pair, who worked closely together at both M&C Saatchi and DDB, are thrilled to be bringing this new independent agency to life, focusing on their passion for creativity – and doing good as a by-product.

Says CK: “Ant and I have learned a few things on our pathway here. Some things so valuable I want them etched on our walls so we never forget. And I hope we learn even more in the years to come. But more importantly, we want our values to be self-evident – in our actions, the work we do, the way we do business and the way we give back. We have nothing to lose and everything to prove.”

Adds Melder: “We looked around globally and saw awesome independent agencies like Joan in NYC and Uncommon Studios in London working in new ways and making a real impact – we’re aiming to do the same here. The time feels right to inject some fresh thinking and much-needed humanity into the industry. Coffee Cocoa Gunpowder is founded on the core principals of creative ambition and being a force for good. And nobody embodies those ideals more than CK. Her passion and integrity are unrivalled – I’m so proud to be bringing this new offering to market with her.”

The doors of Coffee Cocoa Gunpowder are now officially open and more info can be found here: cocogun.com

Photography by Christopher Ireland through The Pool Collective.

Coffee Cocoa Gunpowder is a full-service independent agency led by Managing Director Chiquita King and Creative Partner Ant Melder. King and Melder have extensive leadership experience on blue chip clients, across world-class agencies in South Africa, London and Sydney. The highly-awarded pair are passionate voices for positive change in the creative industry, leading the debate on gender equality and diversity. Coffee Cocoa Gunpowder has a core belief that ‘People Are Everything’ and to live out this ethos, the agency will always donate 5% of its profits to people in need.