ceft and company is a scalable, agile 360º creative marketing lab based in soho, new york. it was co-founded by award winning creative director, ucef hanjani.
ceft and company has been described as the “skunkworks of marketing” 1, “une perle rare” 2, and “the rare combination of creative minds with R.O.I at the forefront of execution” 3. it has also been referred to as the “small tactical unit” 4 called upon to solve big challenges.
at ceft and company we do lots of things, for lots of people… from ambitious start-ups to established global brands, we partner directly with brand CEOs, CMOs, and their teams to craft a cohesive brand vision—then help bring that vision to life from A to Z, from brand identity to fully integrated 360° campaigns.
from the outset, our approach has been media-agnostic, insight-driven, and data-informed. our work is guided by a deep understanding of street culture, fashion history, art, hype index markers, brand partnerships, music creators, and key opinion leaders.
every engagement begins with a strategic foundation and is built upon through our modular structure, assembling custom team members and partners, ensuring the right talent is aligned with each unique client.
we’ve partnered with some of the world’s most influential names across luxury, fashion, beauty, hospitality, automotive, wine & spirits, wellness and lifestyle. our work has been recognized globally, through numerous awards and accolades, not just for its creativity, but for its ability to reflect, and contribute to the current culture, bring relevance to brands, and deliver results.
capabilities:
we offer brand consulting services across all channels. starting with brand identity and packaging to fully integrated 360° campaigns. from a one-man exec level brand advisor / board member, to a larger team delivering a global campaign strategy that spans in-store, ecom, marketing campaigns, brand partnerships, and socials… executing over 1,000’s of images and films on a monthly basis.
* you can also find our range of offerings in the menu-search icon (top right) // services
our modular structure:
every engagement begins with a strategic foundation and is built out through custom team assembly, ensuring the right talent is aligned with each unique challenge.
our modular model and strategic partnerships allow us to scale with precision and stay nimble across industries and disciplines. this modular structure—paired with our meticulous visual language—has earned us a client-base built entirely on word-of-mouth, numerous industry awards, and collaborations with some of the most iconic international brands.
our house-style:
at ceft and company, there is no “house style.”
as a matter of principle, we frown upon “house-styles,” trends, and the use of fashion and influencers as mere surface tools. we believe every brand has its own story, nuances, history, codes, and secrets. our role is to excavate what’s truly unique within a brand’s DNA and surround it with like-minded individuals, co-brands, and relevant assets and ideas to elevate and solidify its presence.
if there’s any observable style or finish across our projects, it is entirely unintended and coincidental. we prefer to think it reflects the level of attention we give to every phase of the process, rather than a predetermined “house style.”
are we the right fit for you?
we treat our clients as true partners. we listen deeply, ask hard questions, and deliver work that is strategic, results-driven, and creatively unexpected. if you want a team that will care for your brand, your budget, and your success like their own—then yes, we might just be perfect together.
but if you’re simply looking for a passive vendor to execute directions without questioning, then no, we’re not your team.
if you’ve read this far, that alone might mean we’re aligned. we’ve worked with startups and global giants alike—and size has never mattered. the only requirement? that you come to the table with a challenge and an openness to explore new ideas.
if you are still reading this then we may indeed be a match made in heaven. given the advantages of our modular structure, no client is ever too small or too big. we have worked with ambitious start-ups as well as established global brands. our sole requirement for incoming clients and projects is that they are challenging and will remain open to new ideas. this principle in our founders DNA has attracted clients from a rather broad spectrum; everything from sports apparel companies (nike | timberland) to hotels (starwood | waldorf astoria), from luxury fashion houses (ferragamo | lelabo | fendi) to wine & liquor companies (hennessy | deutsch | krug), from automotive corporations (jaguar) to home furnishing (toto), from consumer goods (target) to luxury cosmetics (nars).
about the ceft family:
we work with those we love and respect…
what makes our work unique is the combination of love for the craft, in large amounts, and the intensity and euphoria we create on the job…
it’s never easy, it’s never enough, but it’s the only way we know how to do it… and we fully enjoy doing it…
meet just some of the ceft family through the years, some then, some now, all amazing. some have moved on to become artists, business owners, craftsmen, curators, and musicians, some even clients! but once they come into our sphere, they become family, and forever remain in our hearts. we hope you will get to meet a few of them one day…
about the co-founder:
ucef hanjani gathered his extensive experience from international publications such as numéro, soma and big; in addition to his role as creative director for global advertising agencies such as ogilvy & mather and kirshenbaum bond & partners. he also collaborated on special projects with TBWA chiat-day, publicis, and JWT. while there, he contributed to leading accounts such as jaguar, LVMH, target, rolex, lancome, IBM and the like.
hanjani’s aim has always been to intertwine the semblance of style and culture with the world of marketing, to interject strategy and thought into surprising visuals, and to append desire into strategic communication.
how we work
ceft and company was founded not because we simply wanted to create another agency, but because the kind of agency we envisioned didn’t exist. in essence, we set out to build a think tank with the muscle to execute, capable of delivering virtually anything… from product collaborations, to packaging design to digital global content, and to film & advertising. it might sound bold to say that ceft and company is “like no other agency” or “a rare gem” —unless, of course, those testimonials were uttered by no other than the executives of net-a-porter, LVMH, and estee lauder.
so yes, we do see ourselves as different—not better or worse, but distinct. our approach to challenging norms and creating new trends is what sets us apart. we’ve been copied many times but never truly matched. at ceft and company, our creative lab takes on a broader approach. instead of offering a single service, we provide a wide range of solutions to meet the unique challenges of your market.
we’ve been asked to consult with architects, collaborate on products, represent brands, design packaging, advise on merchandise, create brand identities, packagings, secure brand ambassadors, plan and execute events, consult on sponsorships, help rock bands shape their image, consult on CRM, design uniforms for luxury resorts and position products for global markets. along the way, we’ve done it all, and produced numerous award-winning projects that positively reshaped brands and their products.
for a behind-the-scenes look at our work, please visit the “backstage” section.
dream project:
our dream project would be a true partnership with a brand—one where we oversee all creative assets. from inception to evolution, we’d love to shape every aspect: the name, the identity, the spaces, the products, the services, and the communication that brings it all together. to be your outside in-house brand partner.
find us a project where every aspect of the brand can be managed under the same umbrella, from its naming and identity to its spaces, its product, its services, and finally its communication… a true singularity in voice. 1 on 1. where a focused small team can make giant leaps.
testimonials
ceft and company is a new york based creative agency servicing an array of clients regardless of size – our selective CLIENT LIST is available here
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drieke leenknegtchief marketing officer VF Corptimberland, nh / vans, ca – usa |
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remi fritschbusiness dir. & dir. of bespokeberluti, paris – france
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ucef has an outstanding understanding
of brand dna’s and founding stories, as well as a natural affinity with luxury brands. a strategic thinker, he brings tremendous value in early stages of brand strategy work. he is also able to source remarkable talent for implementing it – both within ceft and company and outside. he excels at running the creation, production and execution phases. he is extremely reliable, reactive, and communicative with his client. his seniority and expertise allow him to understand his clients p&l, objectives, and his creative talents are always geared towards clients r.o.i.”
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david olsen 3vice president, global beautynet-a-porter, ny – usa
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what are the business goals of this creative project?” he and his team are the rare combination of creative minds with R.O.I at the forefront of the execution. they don’t just put up something amazing in a timely and professional manner and consider budgets, but they also create amazing work with return and business goals consistently top of mind questioning the need for certain elements all along the way. the results speak for themselves and our entire business was blown away! i look forward to working with him again and highly recommend his company for anyone interested in the services they offer. ”
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sabina bellidir. of image and innovationLVMH brands, paris – france
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…(at LVMH) we believe that luxury is also about art de vivre, culture, style, rituals, elegance, taste and an obsessional attention to details. we share these same values with ucef hanjani and his team. our collaboration is not only based on a great intellectual alchemy, but it is also based on a similar way to look at the world. ucef thinks big and his creative work is equally grand. ”
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nigel powellEVP chief comm officernike, portland – usa
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diane kimsenior vp, global marketingestee lauder co., ny – usa
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glen luchfordfashion dir. / photographerinternational man of mystery |
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…i have worked with ucef and his team for more than ten years now. the projects are always challenging and the team works in a dedicated way. the work ethic is always the same…(with) attention to detail… from the first concept to the last precise detail of the post production. ”
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natacha dzikowski 2dir. of advertising & marketingchristian dior, paris – france
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…ceft and company is much more than a creative agency. it’s a creative lab that invents new territories and new languages which have an enduring effect on brands. in ceft and company i found “une perle rare” —ucef hanjani is a creative director who is a genius strategist and can think outside of traditional advertising. each time i am impressed not only by the strength of the ideas and the quality of the execution but also by the ability ceft and company has to work in a 360° approach under pressure. ”
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julia goldinglobal chief marketing officerrevlon, ny – usa
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hiroko kawasakipresidentHK production, tokyo – japan |
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…i have had the pleasure of working with ucef for many years. he possesses such a passion for his work and always strives for excellence and perfection despite the ever- present budgetary restrictions we face in this industry. he is not only a wonderfully artistic professional whose work is always to the satisfaction of his clients, but i am pleased to also call him my personal friend who i will continue to know for many years to come. ”
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bertrand steipbusiness development dir.moët & chandon, ny – usa
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…ceft and company has worked as a great partner, not only answering to moët & chandon briefs with a great sense of luxury and style, but also engaging in fantastic “challenge and build” exercises when they were exposed to our strategies. this led to implement truly innovative initiatives that maximized the effectiveness of our communication investments. ”
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adelaide sharplesinternational marketing dir.revlon, london – england
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ucef and his team at ceft and company have applied their natural affinity with the fragrance category, their outstanding understanding of brands and exemplary creative skills to a major repositioning and brand identity program. throughout, the appreciation of commercial needs and rigorous focus on delivery has been critical to success. i look forward to having the opportunity to work with ucef again – his bold vision and keen engagement makes the work a pleasure. ”