HALO MEDIA - OUR PEOPLE
Hi, we're Halo.
Our work is corporate. We're not.
Our studios are full of noise, laughter, friendship and food.
This culture is important to us and we love it.
Our team work from our UK and South African offices.
We’re not just a creative agency, we’re business designers.
We’re a close-knit team of thinkers, creators and problem-solvers with serious global experience. From the mining towns of Africa to the boardrooms of London and New York, we’ve built brands across 26 countries – and counting.
With top-tier qualifications, sharp minds, and an eye for detail, we bring strategic thinking and creative muscle to every brief. Our work might be corporate, but our team is not – we’re real people who care deeply about what we do, and who we do it with.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR | OWNER Hayes Cunningham
With more than 25 years in the brand and advertising world, Hayes is passionate about brand strategy and unpacking the "why" behind a company and how that plays out in the marketplace.
A perfectionist by nature, his strengths are understanding the psychology behind branding and the art of visual storytelling.
Hayes is known for his quiet honesty and unique approach to solving problems with a calm perspective.
QUICK FACTS
- Location:
UK office - Special skill:
Brand Strategy and Video Production - Can be bribed with:
Pizza - TV shows:
James Bond movies - Can't get enough of:
Fishing & guitar
Learn more about Hayes, and how a childhood in a war-torn area defined how he thinks with brands.
BRAND DIRECTOR | OWNER Louise Cunningham
Louise is passionate about operational brand cohesion – making sure every part of a brand works seamlessly together, drawing on 25 years of international experience in design and marketing with some of the world’s leading businesses.
In 2024, she was selected for the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women programme. – one of only 70 women chosen from over 3,500 applicants – recognising her as a standout leader in the industry.
She’s a seasoned traveller and brings her love of adventure to pushing boundaries in marketing strategy and creative R&D.
QUICK FACTS
- Location:
UK Office - Special skill:
PowerPoint presentation design - Can be bribed with:
Anything chocolate - TV shows:
Bad reality TV (not stooping as low as the Kardashians though!) - Can't get enough of:
Hiking with her dogs
FINANCE | HR Gill Crawshaw
Gill is like a charming sniper! Her keen financial mind helps us to streamline not only Halo Media but also helps our clients' businesses be more profitable.
She is not only a qualified AGA(SA) Accountant, but she’s also an Archer (yes really!) so she actually does reach targets!
Gill differs from every accountant we've ever met – she brings enthusiasm, creativity and dynamic thinking energy to Halo.
QUICK FACTS
- Location:
South African Office - Special skill:
Seeing financial patterns - Can be bribed with:
Greek food - TV shows:
Lie to Me - Can't get enough of:
Her parrot, Kevin, and good music
Find out more about how Gill mixes her financial acumen with business strategy.
Senior Designer | Researcher Dominique Balie
Dominique brings an international flavour to Halo Media with a (somewhat compulsive) obsession with Italy and global design ideas!
A strong ‘business’ designer, she has research and data interpretation skills to ensure the design effectively meets its target.
Dominique’s thoughtfulness means she brings detail into strategic implementation plans and thinks around corners for our clients.
QUICK FACTS
- Location:
South African Office - Special skill:
Research-based creativity - Can be bribed with:
Buffalo mozzarella - TV shows:
Documentaries - Can't get enough of:
Non-fiction books
Discover how Dominique marries a love of knowledge with design.
KEY ACCOUNTS | CONTENT & PROOFING Shivani Poovalingam
Shivani’s been in the advertising game since 2011. She enjoys conceptualising hard-hitting campaigns and keeping our clients happy.
Shivani is our resident grammar police and hyphen ninja. Incorrect hyphen usage won’t get past her and she even has a real paperback dictionary.
With keen attention to detail and a can-do attitude, she's so dedicated that she has to be told to go home at the end of the day!
QUICK FACTS
- Location:
South African Office - Special skill:
Proofreading. Shivz can spot a double space from across the room - Can be bribed with:
Cupcakes - TV shows:
Modern Family, Stranger Things - Can't get enough of:
Cats
Learn more about how Shivani's competitive nature boosts her professionally.
ACCOUNT MANAGER Ratiba Mohale
Ratiba is not only an efficient account manager, he is also a qualified geologist! His expertise and unique background ensures he brings a fresh and informed perspective to every project he manages.
His other passions include connecting with people and forming relationships. Whether it’s reading the latest psychology books, hosting an empowerment podcast or attending a TEDX Durban event, he’s always driven to uplift those around him.
QUICK FACTS
- Location:
South African Office - Special skill:Strategic thinking and building relationships
- Can be bribed with:Streetwise three with pap from KFC
- TV shows: Anything sports related, especially Soccer
- Can't get enough of: Understanding Human Psychology!
Discover how Ratiba uses psychology and public speaking to influence his role.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER | MULTI-MEDIA Tannah Renou
Tannah is a multi-disciplinary graphic designer. She writes, illustrates, animates, web designs, video edits and is a social media whizz!
Tannah's ability to output creatively across multiple channels means she can not only conceptualise an idea, but roll-out the entire project too!
QUICK FACTS
- Location:
South African Office - Special skill:
Research-based ideation - Can be bribed with:
A yummy desert - TV shows:
The Office - Can't get enough of:
European novels and a good sunset!
Graphic Designer | Multi-Media Nick Naidoo
Nick is our AI aficionado and multimedia designer, which means he’s always on the pulse of the latest trends. His passions for 3D animation, artificial intelligence and digital art mean that he brings cutting-edge creativity to every project.
You’ll find him assisting in a campaign, making a video or using his razor-sharp attention to detail. In short, Nick ensures our designs are nothing short of perfection!
QUICK FACTS
- Location:
South African Office - Special skill:Mastering Photoshop
- Can be bribed with:Chateau Gateaux
- TV shows: The Big Bang Theory
- Can't get enough of: Traveling and deep sea snorkelling with
marine life!
Find out more about Nick's infectious passion for AI and 3D animation.
Administration | Finance Kay Worthington
Kay is a cool, calm, and collected presence in the office. This is just what we need to bring some sanity into our creative madness!
She is an integral part of our behind-the-scenes team who keep our ship running smoothly. If there’s something we need, she’s on it.
QUICK FACTS
- Location:
South African Office - Special skill:Attention to detail and time management
- Can be bribed with:Whispers Chocolate
- TV shows: Shonda Rhimes shows
- Can't get enough of: The ocean, reading books and self-improvement!
Top brands trust us
We've had the pleasure of working with brands that we have brand crushes on.
We pride ourselves on our trustworthiness and reliability.
Working with leading brands has meant we've stepped out of our comfort zone to work with giants.
We've learned a lot working with them, and it's this cumulative experience that has given us, we believe, superpowers!