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Why a Circus?
A circus combines artistry, daring, humor and community to leave a lasting impression on its audience.
It's a celebration of human potential and imagination.
Plus, it’s just fun.
Even for the most serious brands with the most challenging projects and the tightest constraints, the creative process should be fun for both agency and client.
Our approach
Like a great circus, we don’t just perform, we orchestrate. Every element, from the boldest spectacle to the quietest moment of suspense, is created with purpose. The result: moments that pull your audience in, hold their attention, and leave them talking long after the lights go down.
Our approach is tailored to each assignment. We handpick a custom team, not just for every client, but for every project, because no two challenges, ambitions or budgets are alike. By engaging only the talent needed, when needed, we deliver the perfect balance of expertise, agility and efficiency – without the high retainers and overhead of traditional agencies.
Our international team
of strategists, designers, artists & producers bring a range of skills spanning brand development, video, photography, design & CGI/3D animation.
Eben Strousse, Founder/Ringmaster
Eben is an advertising and marketing professional with 25+ years of experience helping Fortune 50 companies and start-ups build brands, and produce integrated campaigns that get noticed, have emotional impact, and move the needle. His experience spans Hi-tech, Automotive, Fashion, Retail, Packaged Goods, Finance and Entertainment.
Eben’s career has been centered in the ad agency business where he had the privilege of working at world class creative powerhouses in New York and San Francisco, such as Publicis & Hal Riney, Chiat Day, Grey, Venables Bell, and JWT. He helped shape global brands including Levis, Smirnoff, GM, Nestea, Mondavi, Sprint, Barclays, Stoli and Miller-Coors.
Before starting his own agency, Eben led the development and management of HP’s first in-house creative agency, which grew to 250 people. He oversaw all of HP’s internal Creative Services, including Live Capture (Video & Photography), Audio Visual, CGI, and HP’s Global Packaging Design. His experience on ‘both sides of the aisle' (client & agency) gives him the unique ability to identify insights grounded in research and deliver provocative ideas and creative materials with the perfect balance of art and science.
When he’s not working, Eben is walking his dog, mountain biking, surfing, playing drums in a local band, and trying to embarrass his thirteen-year-old daughter.
Harlan Kennedy, Head of Strategy
Harlan is a brand strategist with over 25 years of experience who helps companies understand who they are, envision who they want to be, and then bridge the gap between the two.
Since 2019, Harlan has been an independent consultant, working with clients large and small to help them achieve business success through the smart application of brand strategy.
Harlan founded and headed up VBP Orange, the experience design division of Venables Bell & Partners, on the insight that customer experience matters more than advertising. As the Director of Strategy, Harlan ensured that the work was grounded in both user-driven insights and brand strategy. Orange clients included Facebook, Audi, Miller-Coors, Marriott, One Medical, and Pacific Life.
Harlan has been helping clients with strategic challenges since the late nineties. At VB&P he headed up brand strategy efforts on a string of new business wins including Audi, Palm, Nestea, Russell Investments, and Conoco-Phillips. Other brands he has shaped over his career include Acuvue, Agilent Technologies, Barclays, Powerade, Sony, and Xbox. His thoughts on branding have been published in Fast Company, PSFK, and Ad Age.
Harlan’s interest in the convergence of culture, commerce, and creativity began with a BA in Art History from Middlebury College.
Matias Martty, ECD/Art Director
Matías began his advertising career as an Art Director trainee at FCB, cutting his teeth on Fortune 100 brand design and marketing assets. He eventually moved to another advertising behemoth, Grey, where he helped shape WW brands such as Coca-Cola, P&G, Sprite and LG, among others.
He switched gears to hone his skills at boutique creative agency, Ponce Buenos Aires, working on global campaigns for Rexona and Rexona Teens. He then had tours of duty at Wunderman and Del Campo Saatchi & Saatchi, contributing to campaigns for Pampers, H&S, and Pantene.
Matías was soon recruited by Dentsu Creative, where he was appointed Executive Creative Director to lead brands like Epson, La Caja, Noblex, and Pernod Ricard. He later made a shift to the client side where he became the Global Creative Director for Spartan.
Matías has earned numerous awards, including a Grand Prix at Cannes, D&AD, Clio, One Show, London International Awards, AdAge, Effie, New York Festival, Sol de Iberoamérica, Fiap, El Ojo de Iberoamérica, Diente (Argentine Creative Circle), Wave, and Lápiz de Platino, among others.
In 2024, he was recognized as one of the 50 best creatives in the world.
Claudio Zaia, ECD/Head of Design
Claudio "La Reina" Giovanelli Zaia began his advertising career 20 years ago in a boutique design studio before joining the FCB team as Head of Art. He later moved to Grey where he spent five years leading global launches for Coca-Cola.
Subsequently, SaatchiX brought him on as Creative Director of its new Argentine branch, where he focused primarily on Procter & Gamble. He also led projects in São Paulo, Miami, and Mexico, becoming the Latin American reference point for the network.
In 2014, he joined Geometry, working for clients such as Kimberly Clark, Coca-Cola, Wendy’s, VW, and KFC. By 2018, he was promoted to ECD.
Throughout his career, Claudio has earned numerous awards, including a Grand Prix at El Ojo de Iberoamérica, awards from the New York Festival, D&AD, Clio, and the Grand Prix at Diente, as well as the first Cannes Lions for the Argentine office. In 2024, he was recognized as one of the top 5 Chief Creative Officers globally by The One Club for Creativity.
Manuel "Jolt" Joltac, Senior Graphic Designer
"It's not about what I have done, but what I will do next."
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