About
Listed in Forbes 30 Under 30 as “a leader, creative, and innovator shaping the future of marketing and advertising”, Thijs has over a decade of experience spearheading marketing, brand, and innovation initiatives for some of the most influential brands in the world, including Nike, Google, Samsung, Activision Blizzard, and HBO’s Game of Thrones.
Currently, Thijs serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at Wieden+Kennedy Tokyo and Seoul, where he leads teams to develop transformative strategies and ideas that resonate on a global and local scale. His approach is deeply influenced by a professional journey that spanned four continents, from Amsterdam, Sydney, and San Francisco to the bustling cities of New York, Seoul, and Tokyo, providing him with a profound global perspective and a deep understanding of diverse cultural landscapes.
His work has been widely recognised at Cannes Lions, Clio Awards, and The One Show, to name a few, with the majority of awards being in innovative and culturally impactful categories. From sparking a global debate about bullying in Japan, introducing healthy sports breaks in Japanese cram schools, to launching the #1 gaming companion for Destiny the game on Amazon.
Outside work, he lectures at Ukrainian school SKVOT and is an Advisory Board Member of Breda University of Applied Sciences. He also writes and contributes for Adweek, campaignmagazine, and highsnobiety, talking mostly about gaming and youth culture, with topics such as “how brands can navigate the esports scene”.
Say hello
thijsvdwouw@gmail.com
Brand Experience
Awards
YouTube Works Awards
Grand Prix - Celebrating the most effective, creative, innovative, and data-driven work with demonstrable business results.
Force for Good Award
Nike The Future Isn’t Waiting
ADC Awards
Gold - Digital Experience - Guerrilla / Stunts
Bronze - Digital Interactive - Games for Web or Social Media
Call of Duty Infinite Warfare: Hostile Takeover
Shorty Awards
Gold - Best Use Of Facebook
Gold - Best Use Of An Emerging Platform
Gold - Best Use Of Gamification
Gold - Best In Games
Call of Duty Infinite Warfare: Hostile Takeover
AD STARS
Winner Diverse Insights
Nike The Future Isn't Waiting
D&AD
Graphite Pencil
Nike The Future Isn't Waiting
Adweek's Performance Marketing Awards
Content Marketing Campaign Of The Year
Nike The Future Isn’t Waiting
Adweek’s Project Isaac Award
Best in Gaming Invention
Destiny 2 Ghost Skill
The Drum Social Buzz Awards
Gold - Best Use Of Facebook
Gold - Most Innovate Use Of Social Media
Call of Duty Infinite Warfare: Hostile Takeover
Forbes 30 Under 30
Forbes Magazine
Media & Marketing 2020
Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity
Gold Lion - Most Innovative Use Of Social Media or Community
Call of Duty Infinite Warfare: Hostile Takeover
Silver Lion - Innovative Use Of Technology
Destiny 2 Ghost Skill
Silver Lion - Culture & Context - Social Behaviour
Nike JUKU
Gold Spike / Spikes Asia - Film Craft
Nike JUKU
Webby Awards
Winner - Diversity & Inclusion
Nike ‘New Girl’
Winner - Corporate Social Responsibility
Nike ‘New Girl’
Honoree for Best Use Of Social Media
Call of Duty Infinite Warfare: Hostile Takeover
Clio Awards
Bronze - Target Audience
Nike ‘Imperfect You’
Silver - Film
Nike ‘Imperfect You’
Bronze - Film
Nike ‘New Girl’
Grand Clio - Integrated Campaign
Game Of Thrones #ForTheThrone campaign
Grand Clio - Partnerships & Collaborations
Game Of Thrones #ForTheThrone campaign
Super Clio - Best Advertising of the Superbowl
Game of Thrones x Bud Light - Joust
Gold Clio - Category: Apps
Destiny 2 Ghost Skill
Silver Clio - Category: Medium Innovation
Destiny 2 Ghost Skill
The One Show
Gold Pencil - Branded Entertainment: Short Form Video
Game of Thrones x Bud Light - Joust
Gold Pencil - Ambient Media - Experiential & Installations
Sprint - Twice the Price Store
The One Club
Best Integrated Digital & Physical Product
Destiny 2 Ghost Skill