International editorial company Whitehouse Post announces the promotion of longtime Editor Sam Gunn to Director of the London office, an acknowledgement of the value he has brought to the company over his twenty-two-year tenure. An award-winning editor with a multitude of high-profile campaigns under his belt, Gunn has also been a mentor and stalwart supporter since joining the company in 2000.
“We are very lucky to have Sam in our arsenal, says Managing Partner David Brixton. “He’s one of those rare editors that in addition to doing amazing work, has always been a huge supporter of the company culture and the bigger picture. His mentorship skills and eye on the future growth of the London office and Whitehouse as a whole, are invaluable in the constantly evolving landscape of post.”
Excited to dive into his new role, Sam reflects on the road that brought him here. “Back in 2000, Whitehouse was widely regarded as one of the leading editorial houses in London,” says Gunn. “The level of talent amongst these industry heavyweights was terrifying and when they asked little old me to join I felt like I’d won the lottery! They took me in as a kid, showed me the ropes, and had faith in me all the way, and for that, I am indebted to these lovely people. Today, Whitehouse is still up there with the leading editorial houses but on both sides of the Atlantic, and now it’s my turn to help nurture the talent within our walls and give back the guidance and love that was offered to me. I want to help launch many more successful careers and continue to show the industry what we are made of.”
An accomplished editor with decades of experience cutting award-winning adverts for brands including Guinness, Nike, Apple, Heineken, Stella, BBC, and McDonald’s, Gunn has worked all over the world with A-list directors including Anthony Mandler, Tony Barry, Paul Hunter, and Hoffman/Metoyer. A career highlight came in 2013 when Gunn edited the Cannes Gold Lion winning work “Camera Shy” for Dove, a spot that still makes him smile.
Over the years much has changed, but Sam cites craft as something that will always endure. “The World has changed a lot over the past 20 odd years and so the industry must too, look at social media and the volume of content available in everyone’s pocket. People are exposed to (and numbed by) a lot of badly edited content on so many platforms. You can scroll endlessly through your feed without remembering what you saw 2 minutes ago, but when a commercial is well edited you feel its impact and it sticks with you, hopefully for a few minutes longer. Good editing, as a craft, is unwavering.”
“I’ve worked with Sam for many years now and it’s been incredible to watch his talent continue to grow,” says Partner Russell Icke. “His presence in the office, and dedication to bringing up the next generation are a huge asset for the company. We’re very lucky to have him.”
