A political refugee, Joel Clement fled the United States in the year of George W. Bush's inauguration. He knew he wouldn't be able to concentrate on the truth of brands whilst overwhelmed by the propaganda of a nation, so he abandoned an illustrious career which at that stage found him at Goodby Silverstein & Partners. At GS&P, he was awarded San Francisco's Marget Larsen award for a body of work for Nike and HP- an award Rich Silverstein cursed him out for winning in one year when it had taken him ten.

Fortunately he was a tradesman whose skill he carried in his mind, so he abandoned the burdensome metal that he had garnered at all the big shows and made a run for it. He did keep one award though- the cash recently won from the Athena $100,000 grand prize. After taxes, sharing with colleagues, and throwing a party for the office, he was left with just enough money for a one-way ticket going elsewhere.

Joel sought asylum in steamy equatorial Singapore and found it at Bartle Bogle Hearty where he worked on Levis for the Japanese market. Subsequent career adventures in Europe and Asia (where his work on Sylvania won the latter continent's only Cannes Lion for TV that year) led him to an appointment as Regional Creative Director for Saatchi Asia. ECD duties for Thailand were added and he became the most awarded farang in the history of Thai advertising. With responsibilities including Vietnam/China/India/Philippines/Malaysia/Japan, he mentored, won new business, and earned countless awards including eight Cannes Lions. Ironically, a Gold Lion was won for an Amnesty International campaign having a go at George W. on a postage stamp.