Founded in an Amsterdam Canal House in 1998, we opened our second door in Los Angeles in January of 2007.
Here, we create ideas for brands that get the world talking and sharing. And we do it all from high atop our Beach House in Santa Monica.
Our Global Management Team
Chris Mendola
Michael Allen and William Gelner (Los Angeles)
Al Moseley (Amsterdam)
Michael Allen, Managing Partner/CEO
“Since the day 180 started, our passion has been to bring brave ideas to brands in order to move businesses forward across geographic, cultural, and media boundaries. This broad way of thinking challenges us every day to shift perspectives in order to see opportunities for our clients where others don’t.”
Throughout his 25-year career, Mike has been both a client and agency leader. As such, he has been part of some of the most talked about work in our industry, including: establishing “The Power To Be Your Best” for Apple, re-energizing “Just Do It” for Nike, launching the Jordan and Tiger Woods brands, reviving Nissan in the U.S., introducing “Impossible is Nothing” for adidas, helping Ray-Ban persuade the world to “Never Hide,” and introducing the spirit of “make.believe” for Sony.
Mike hails from San Diego and is a proud husband and father of two boys.
Chris Mendola, Managing Partner/Chairman
“180 is more than our agency’s name. It’s the ethos that drives our people, our culture, and the work.”
Since Chris started 180 with his partners, the agency has remained single-minded. Success is when the real world is talking about the work that 180 creates for its clients.
“For us, it needs to be that simple.”
William Gelner, Managing Partner/ECD
“If it weren’t for 180 Thinking, we would all still be living in caves”.
Highly awarded and internationally recognized, William brings over 17 years of experience leading brands to make innovative, integrated and talked about work.
Before joining 180LA, William was the CD at BBH NY who oversaw all creative development on AXE. His work launched the brand in North America and catapulted AXE into a cultural and commercial success.
When not working, he and his big, yellow board can be found wherever there are waves.
Peter Cline, Managing Partner/Head of Broadcast Production
“180 Thinking is moving half way across the world from a canal house to open a beach house, bringing this new way of thinking to the US.”
In 2000 Peter moved to 180, bringing his 20 years of production experience to become a full partner overseeing all production and co-managing the day to day in Amsterdam. On the 1st of January 2007, Peter moved to Los Angeles to set up 180 LA.
The list of brands Peter has worked on includes Nike, Jordan, adidas, Reebok, American Express and Amex Gold, Coke, ESPN, Nynex, Microsoft, Sprint, Calvin Klein, Motorola, Miller, Mitsubishi Cars, Sony, Boost Mobile, Sony, Bombay Saphire, HBO, amongst many others.
Kevin Dundas, Managing Partner/President
“Ideas that get the world talking are a key component of any successful marketing campaign. 180 Thinking challenges our agency and clients to maximize this potential.”
Kevin joined 180 in January of 2010, bringing with him 25 years of business experience, amassed from working on many famous brands at a small selection of famous agencies around the world.
His experience as both a veteran planner and two-time CEO brings a truly unique perspective to 180 and our clients.
Al Moseley, Managing Partner/ECD
“180 Thinking is an attitude, not a formula. Challenging the status quo, it offers a rich springboard for the creative mind.”
Over the last twenty years Al has created some of the biggest global campaigns for the world’s most famous brands. Along the way, he has worked at some of the world’s most revered creative agencies and won every major creative award.
After working on global brands for most of his career, Al has developed a distinctly international point of view to creativity.
He joined 180 in January 2010.