What we do
The Ideas Trade
It's how we earn money, influence human behaviour, and make our clients famous. We're driven to find the best ways to solve communications problems... could be a TV ad, a launch event, an online film, a music partnership, a digital movement, a PR stunt, or something we can't even imagine yet. To be honest, if we had a sugar daddy we'd do this part for free.
We Love Solving Problems
Now that doesn't mean we're down at the local pub breaking up fights but it does mean we can't wait to hear about your brand and the challenges that are keeping you up at night.
Action Heroes
As far as we're concerned, if an idea doesn't happen then it never really existed... and you shouldn't have to pay for it. We feasibility check all our ideas before we share them with you and guarantee seamless delivery every time.
Not Just Ads
Our whole business is built around having big ideas and when we say big we mean more than just ads. Sure big ideas will inspire advertising but they'll also create culture, move the people, and maybe even change the world.
Back To The Future
We're a curious bunch who pride ourselves on uncovering human truths and knowing what's on the cultural horizon. No we don't have a flux capacitor but we're working on it.
People Will Talk
When an idea hits a cultural nerve it causes an immediate and almost explosive reaction. People will talk about your brand, tell all their friends.
Back to topOur culture
Branson everyone sells and everyone is an entrepreneur
First Date be on your best behaviour, be polite, be on time, be easy to get along with
No Ego be humble and never worry about who came up with what
Idea Royalty your title means nothing… Ideas are king and anyone should have them
Digital Birth Right never forget where we came from
Anything is possible intelligence and energy will make amazing things happen
Back to topOur people
The Team
A team of 40, give or take an intern or 2, all focused on solving our client's business problems. We're a unique mix of thinkers and doers, ideas folk, account managers, creatives, producers, and a few other glorious oddballs.
The Managing Partners of Tongue couldn't be more different as individuals or as business folk. Each partner approaches every brief from an almost opposing angle and knowlege base. Big ideas just won't happen without sufficient pressure from all sides.
Meet the partners below.
Jonathan Pease
Executive Ideas Director
and Managing Partner
An 'ideas man' to the core, JP has been in the communications game for the past 14 years on a global scale working with the likes of BBDO New York and Kirshenbaum Bond + Partners. JP has collected a bit of metal along the way including Gold Desktop Create Award (Sydney), Silver Pencil AWARD (Sydney), Gold Effie (New York), Gold World Medal (New York) and Gold Cannes Lion (New York). In his spare time he is a Style Director on the smash hit TV show Australia's Next Top Model and is often asked to public speak on ideas, fashion, and business motivation. He recently lectured at Australia's only maximum-security prison for young women (Juniperina Juvenile Justice).
Tim Sexton
Managing Partner
After spending time as a ski guide in the French Alps, the next obvious move for Tim was to return to London in 1995 and found one of the UK’s very first digital agencies. After selling the business, Tim stayed with the company to be European MD for Modern Media Europe from 1998 until 2003 and was part of the team that launched the company onto the NASDAQ in 1999. Key clients were Unilever, General Motors, HP, Philips, The Financial Times and IBM. Time got his MBA from the Imperial College of Science and Technology and was a member of the digital judging panel at the Cannes Festival of Advertising in 2000. Happily, Tim still finds time to ski.
Lyndon Hale
Executive Creative Director
and Managing Partner
Digitally born and bred, Lyndon has been working in the creative industries for over 21 years. He started as an illustrator, contracted to Oxford University Press in his hometown. Since then Lyndon has worked for some of the great agencies around the world including JWT Cape Town, Modem Media, Wheel (now LBi), and RMG London. Lyndon has been recognised by several awards schemes including: D AD, New York Festivals, Cannes Cyberlions, IAB Awards UK Australia, IAB Creative Showcase UK Australia, Loerie Awards (SA) and Spada Awards (SA).
John Du Vernet
Managing Partner
John (know to most as JD) is the king of getting ideas to happen. JD started his career at Macquarie bank and spent several years on the client side working for Vodafone. After completing his Masters, JD started at Naked in Australia as Head of Special Projects. A keen snowboarder, surfer and rugby player, JD is no stranger to the notion of getting stuck in and achieving results. This philosophy has driven JD to collect a variety of awards including a Media Federation Award, an Asian PR Week Award, 11 Cannes finalist selections and one winner. A true believer in multidimensional communications thinking he now lectures the Integrated Brand Management course for the Australian Federation of Advertising.
Our clients
- AHL
- Australian Rugby
- Atari
- Australian Labor
- Greater Union, Birch Carroll and Cole
- BPay
- Caltex
- Cancer institute NSW
- Coca-cola
- Colonial First State
- Event
- Goodman Fielder
- HAL
- McGuigan Simeon
- Novogen
- Blue Tongue Brewery
- Rydges Hotels
- Sony BMG Music
- Think education group
- Thredbo
- TW Steel
- Vodafone
- Weight Watchers
- WWE
- Featherdale Wildlife park