Hi.

I’m Stu Harkness. AKA Stubacca. Born with a full beard and size 48 feet.

I’m a writer by trade and specialise in developing the tone of voice for brands, while providing a strategic North Star and platform to help them clearly grow.

I grew up playing football but failed as a professional so realised I may be better off writing about sport, and wound up running Nike and adidas, agency side, amongst a spectrum of other categories globally; from tech innovation for Samsung to Honda engineering, plus fashion, FMCG and vast social networks.

Sport also showed me the strength of teamwork. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the work on this site. Alongside my old Watford tutor, Tony Cullingham, who taught us to never be boring. Rest in preposterousness TC.

I originally cut my teeth in advertising at TBWA on PlayStation. Then Wieden + Kennedy London and Portland as a CD. Plus a stint in the Amsterdam office making Write The Future for Nike with Oscar winning film director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.

While in the US I ran the Facebook brand helping the world’s biggest online community grow to over a billion users by strategically celebrating the value of Friends. Plus cannonballing Zuck.

I was also in charge of Powerade, working with NBA legend LeBron James, plus originated the brand’s ‘Just A Kid From Somewhere’ campaign.

I came back to Europe to be an ECD at 72andSunny Amsterdam, helping oversee a breadth of work and grow a diversely talented crew of 200.

I left 72 to help build a sports brand from scratch in the form of H&M MOVE, featuring fitness icon Jane Fonda. Overseeing comms to swing tags.

I always aim to make culturally impactful ideas, that drive conversation, as well as brands and business forward. Creativity fuels the bottom line.

Awards aren’t my motivation but have been lucky to win Best In Show or Gold at all the major shows globally, including the Cannes Lions Film Grand Prix.

Am happy to plug in agency or client side, or make work direct as can also service production when needed. My partner is an EP: anna-harkness.com

Writing is my passion with a side order of craft. Plus hopefully having a laugh. Holla if you need a hand with a brand or wanna make something fun.