What others say…
“…I can truly say that we feel lucky to have worked with Erich.”
He, and the specialized team he selected, worked closely with us to develop a plan to align and unite our brands both internally, and externally. Their insights and strategic approach have been critical in leading us to a long term strategy and brand ideas that honestly reflect the personality, aims and purpose of our organization.
— Don Berman, Chairman & Founder, CardWorks Inc.
“Erich’s unique blend of talent and tenacity has made him a vital pillar in building the creative reputation of TBWA…”
Besides his talent, his honesty and integrity of likewise has been greatly valued in the workplace.
— John Hunt, Global Creative Chair, TBWA
“Erich is one of the most passionate and tenacious creatives I have had the pleasure of working with.”
He displays as much unique inventiveness in his craft as in his management style.
— Tony Granger, Former Global Chief Creative Officer, Young & Rubicam · Former Chief Creative Officer, Saatchi & Saatchi
“Erich is one of the most collaborative Creative Directors I've had the pleasure of working with over the past 13 years.”
Having established his career in award-winning traditional work, it's been a humbling experience to watch him tap into the opportunities that the digital and new media world provides. This has resulted in some of Saatchi & Saatchi LA's best-integrated work.
— Uwe Gutschow, Managing Partner, Strategy, WPP Media
“Erich does not lead from a place of ego, but from a place of service...”
He welcomes active collaborations from account, strategy, media, and production as he understands that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
— Eric Gulino, VP, Wunderman Thompson
“I found his leadership style to be strategic, collaborative and ultimately very trustworthy.”
I’ve worked with many agencies and their creative teams at the local, regional and national level that successfully developed creative messaging. Erich does that too — and from a client’s perspective, I found his leadership style to be strategic, collaborative and ultimately very trustworthy. He understands more than a typical creative executive, and the work he did and the results we had is proof.
Erich is not your typical CD simply producing wonderful creative — yes, he does that. The best example during my MarComm tenure is the “Swagger Wagon” Sienna launch campaign. Google it and you’ll see the spots, which were spot on for the demographic. But also take a look at the rap video — created to extend the life of the campaign when the budget was almost gone and the national portion was peaking, because the Sienna SE model wasn’t in production until ninety days after launch.
I credit two people with the success of this effort: the Toyota National Advertising Manager, Bob Zeinstra, and the Saatchi LA CD, Erich Funke.
From two recommendations, 2020 and 2025
— Tim Morrison, Toyota Motor North America (retired) — former Marketing Communications executive, Toyota USA
“There is a rare breed of Creative Director who also possesses sharp strategic instincts. Erich is that rare breed...”
There is a rare breed of Creative Director who also possesses sharp strategic instincts. Erich is that rare breed. He partners with senior clients to understand their business intent; partners with strategy and connection planners to understand the insights that will unlock the client’s goals; and partners with the customer by creating content that is fresh and engaging.
— David Murphy, Author · University Lecturer · Founder, Rehumanize
“I found his leadership style to be strategic, collaborative and ultimately very trustworthy.”
Working with Erich taught me the value of craft by seeing someone completely and passionately immersed in the detail of the craft of art direction to reach people at a level that not only got the message across but created a sense of something new and exciting happen at every step of the journey for the viewer.
Erich’s attention to detail is at the level that if he designed a magazine cover to be a prop in a stills shoot, he would also rigorously examine the backstory as to why that particular magazine, why that issue and how it contributed to the narrative of the story. He would also probably design interior spreads for the magazine that no one would ever see. The fact that no one would ever see them makes them so wonderful.
It is an approach that I am proud to have learned from him. That it is the tiny details that matter, that make the bigger world building possible, and the biggest ideas deserve immaculate execution.
From two recommendations, 2020 and 2025
— Philip Ireland, Creative Advisor
“I’ve always admired Erich’s work. (Translation: I’ve always been really fucking jealous).”
I knew Erich before I ever met him.
Talent like his casts a long shadow.
We both spent our advertising youth in South Africa, fighting for the same business, competing for the same awards, and trying to be hired by the same agencies.
Erich triumphed far more often than I did in all of these endeavors.
Fast forward a few years and we finally met at TBWAin Los Angeles.
We worked on different teams, but became fast friends.
In huge part because I’ve always admired Erich’s work. (Translation: I’ve always been really fucking jealous.)
His ideas are strategically profound, brilliantly simple, humanly powerful, and perfectly executed.
There are many people in the business who can achieve some of those things.
And very few can achieve all of them.
And even fewer who can do it consistently.
Erich is one of them.
If you’re reading this, I hope someday you get to experience this raw, rare, remarkable talent for yourself.
— Craig Crawford, Founder · Chief Creative Provocateur
“Erich Funke is without a doubt one of the most talented and dedicated creative professionals I have ever worked with.”
Erich Funke is without a doubt one of the most talented and dedicated creative professionals I have ever worked with. He has one outstanding ability and that is the attention he pays to detail. This means the work he oversees and produces often goes from great to brilliant.
— Leon Jacobs, Senior Experience & Creative Director · EmpathyLab · EPAM Systems
“He’s a passionate professional with great leadership skills and sets very high standards wherever he goes.”
Erich’s passion, drive and aesthetic have always made him a standout creative. He trained under one of the greatest leaders in our industry, John Hunt at Hunt Lascaris in Johannesburg. That experience formed a foundation for creative excellence and a work ethic that is hard to find.
I worked for Erich at Chiat/Day Los Angeles when he was the CD on Infiniti. He was an excellent leader and always pushed the work to the highest level. He’s a craftsman and a perfectionist. Together we did a beautiful campaign for the Q45 that’s still in my portfolio.
We met again at Saatchi & Saatchi where Erich was the CD on many famous car launches and did some of the most iconic work in Saatchi’s history — the Swagger Wagon campaign for Sienna and the Space Shuttle Endeavour pull for Tundra. Those two campaigns created enormous buzz for Toyota and Saatchi. He was an exceptional leader who inspired us all to be better.
I was sad to see Erich leave, but happy to see him progress in his career and achieve even greater status as the CCO at his next agency. I’m proud to say I know him and hope our paths cross again soon. He’s a passionate professional with great leadership skills and sets very high standards wherever he goes.
— John Payne, Executive Creative Director