LEIGHTON HOWLDirector

Leighton Howl is the Director of The Pond, a talent management agency for freelance and consultant creatives that he started in 2006.

Leighton leads the overall direction of the agency. He spends much of his time understanding the key issues facing agency owners, as well as helping creatives realise their market value and career goals.

Convinced that good creative is the key to building strong brands, the former senior art director has a unique understanding of the freelance creative market.

This has allowed him to grow The Pond into a business with five full-time staff and more than 100 of the most recognised independent creatives on its books.

Outside of work, Leighton has a strong interest in horse breeding and is a majority shareholder in the group one-winning race mare, Miss Keepsake. He’s also right into trout fishing.

If you've never done business with The Pond but you would like to, then he is your first point of contact. He’s also the best person to talk to about market trends and flexible creative resource for business growth.

CLINTON ULYATTTalent Bookings & Management

Clinton Ulyatt is one of two Talent & Bookings Managers at The Pond.

Clinton's key responsibility is to match advertising and design clients with the best freelance creatives available. Part of The Pond for five years, he also vets new members, negotiates start times, confirms confidentiality contracts and structures rates that work for your budgets.

His role as Talent & Bookings Manager was a natural progression, after four years in talent management (casting actors for TV, film and commercials), and an advertising career that saw him rise to senior account manager level at Generator and Y&R.

Specialising in career management and client liaison, Clinton is particularly focused on driving continuity of supply so that clients can enjoy the benefits of using the same contractors time after time.

As an actor (check out his cameo appearances on Shortland St, Lord of The Rings and various indie releases), Clinton has a genuine interest in seeing creative people find work. He’s also a keen fisherman.

If you'd like to enquire about an advertising or design creative, make a booking or get advice on how to best resource a project, talk to Clinton.

COURTNEY PERRETTTalent Bookings & Management

Courtney Perrett is a true people person who works alongside Clinton as our Talent & Bookings Manager.

Courtney's key responsibility is to match advertising and digital clients with the best freelance creatives available. She also vets new members, negotiates start times, confirms confidentiality contracts and structures rates that work for your budgets.

Having worked as a senior account manager at both big and small agencies, she knows the various pressures of finding creative resources. And she’s seen first hand how agencies can lose money by paying too much for the wrong freelancers.

When Courtney's not working, she’s most likely cooking up a storm (you might have seen her on the first season of New Zealand's Hottest Home Baker), or, sewing sequins on her samba outfits.

If you want to get the right people at the right rate Courtney will give you straight up advice.

BARNABY LAWRENCECreative Talent Manager

Barnaby Lawrence is the Creative Talent Manager at The Pond.

As the first point of contact for new members, Barnaby sees up to eight creatives each week. So he plays an important role in the initial screening process we use to maintain our premium position in the market. He also updates portfolios and profiles, checks the weekly availability of members, maintains The Pond website and manages our e-marketing programme.

Barnaby's Bachelor of Communications background, where he majored in PR/Advertising, is a definite asset in our effective promotion of Pond members to the design, advertising and digital communication industries.

When Barnaby's not at work, he's most likely practicing his progressive house music skills on his decks or researching new tunes online.

If you are interested in being represented by The Pond, or, you need advice on your positioning in the market, he's the person to contact.

BRIAN ANDREWSAccounts

Brian manages all of The Pond's billings so that clients pay and members get paid. (Very important). He also helps a number of members with their own client billings. If you want to know about invoices, spreadsheets, tax breaks or anything else financial, he's the man to talk to.