MIAMI, USA // Alvar is a Catalán driven by curiosity and adrenaline in equal measure. His appetite has led him to dominate agencies in Europe, South America and now the United States, producing major awards for clients everywhere he has been. He has helped Alma DDB become the most creatively awarded agency of both the multicultural and total markets.

Currently, Alvar is Alma’s creative guru. On the Directory Big Won ranking, his team developed the most awarded radio and print campaigns of 2016 and were in the top 10 most creatively awarded agencies in the United States. Alvar also led the agency to land the #1 spot in the Adlatina Crema ranking, and top three in all of Iberoamérica. Alma has appeared on the Ad Age Agency A-List each year since Alvar took over the creative department four years ago. During that time, he has also earned 19 prestigious Cannes Lions and 11 Clios for the agency, and helped it to grow into the largest multicultural shop in the United States. Alvar was named “Creative of the Year” at El Ojo de Iberoamérica in 2016 and 2017, and has participated as a judge at FIAP, Effies, El Ojo and is slated for the CLIOs in 2018.

Alvar is passionate about mentoring the next generation of creative leaders, and it’s a personal point of pride for him to lead one of the most gender-balanced teams (35%) in the industry. He leads creative development for McDonald’s, State Farm, Clorox, Sprint, Jeep, MillerCoors, and Netflix, among others. Throughout his career, Alvar has also worked for clients such as Ford, Volkswagen, Unilever, HSBC, BBVA, Santander, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Nike, Pfizer, and Cadbury Adams.

Before moving back to the states, Alvar served as General Creative Director at Bassat Ogilvy Madrid and was a member of the Executive Committee at Group Ogilvy España. During his 6 years as head of the creative department, the agency stood out for winning significant new clients, as well as awards, in the most renowned national and international festivals, including Cannes Lions, El Sol de Iberoamérica, El Ojo, CDC, Eurobest, and One Show, among others.

Prior to assuming the creative helm of the Madrid agency in 2007, Alvar served as Vice President and Executive Creative Director of JWT Mexico, where he was nominated by the International Festival of Creativity El Ojo de Iberoamérica as Creative Director of the Year. During his tenure, the agency was also recognized as one of the most creative agencies in the country after winning in the most important local and international festivals such as Cannes, Clio, FIAP, El Ojo, El Sol, New York, and One Show.

Prior to JWT Mexico, he served as Executive Creative Director at McCann Erickson Barcelona, and also worked at Tandem DDB Barcelona, where he began his professional career in 1995 as a copywriter.

Alvar was born in Barcelona, Spain, and graduated from Memorial High School in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He received his bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations from the Universidad Autónoma De Barcelona. He later majored in Communication Arts from Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts.