ceft and company was created in 2004. it was conceived as a creative lab structured to solve communication and marketing challenges without the limits imposed by preconceived mediums that generally limit traditional agencies. our philosophy has always been that the solution should dictate the medium. building upon that, ceft and company, by design, was created not to be an advertising agency, nor a product design firm, nor a digital agency, nor an event agency; yet, we have provided all of that and more when relevant.
ceft and company is a true embodiment of what a 360º agency should be. the company was created not to duplicate yet another agency, but because what was desperately needed did not exist… a singular voice-thread through all forms of communication.
you can find our range of offerings in the menu-search icon (top right) // services
our modular structure:
our modular structure and strategic partnerships have ensured the efficiency of our operations and the vastness of our capabilities. this approach, accompanied by our immaculate visual vocabulary has won us a purely word-of-mouth client base, numerous awards and a distinctive list of quintessential and international brands.
our house-style:
there is no house-style at ceft and company. as a matter of principle, we frown upon “house-styles,” trends, and even the use of fashion as a surface tool. if there is any observable style amongst projects, it is purely a result of solutions from specific ideas. each character and each brand should have its own set of nuances, memories, cues, secrets and intricacies. our role, first and foremost, is to understand, and only then to excavate the most relevant aspects, and transcend them for future generations to appreciate.
the right match?
is ceft and company the right fit for you? the answer is both yes… and no.
we are committed to serving our clients as true partners and honest advisors. our goal is to deeply understand our client’s needs and deliver work that is not only relevant and driven by results but also surprising and fresh.
if you’re looking for a partner who will challenge your expectations and treat your brand, budget, and success as if they were their own, then the answer is yes. however, if you’re simply seeking a passive “vendor” who views your project as just another task or a source of income, and doing as they are told, then the answer is no.
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 multinational corporations and small start ups. 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 ( ferrgamo | lelabo | fendi ) to wine & liquor companies such as ( hennessy | deutsch | krug ), from automotive corporations ( jaguar ) to home furnishing ( toto ), from consumer goods ( target ) to luxury cosmetics ( nars ).
about the 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 multinational advertising agencies such as oglivy & mather and kirshenbaum bond & partners. he also collaborated on special projects with TBWA chiat-day, publicis, and JWT. while there, he worked on renowned 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 fashion (street 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 & company is “like no other agency” or “a rare gem”or a “very unique combination”—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 challenge norms is what sets us apart. traditionally, no matter what the clients needed, an advertising agency would sell it an ad campaign, and a digital agency would sell it a digital campaign. at ceft and company, our creative lab has taken on a broader approach. rather than offering a specific service, we excavate a broad line of solutions to your markets challenge. 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 partnership with a brand were we are assigned to handle all creative assets. we would like to strategically create all the related elements from the brand’s inception to its achievements, or from its current state to its future growth.
find us a project where every aspect of the brand can be managed under the same direction, from its naming and identity to its spaces, its product, its services, and finally its communication… and just maybe, advertising will have no place in such an endeavor.
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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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 olsenvice 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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“…ucef (ceft and company) is a great strategic and creative partner. his powerful work for nike over the many years always brought creative solutions in service of the brand”
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diane kimsenior vp, global marketingestee lauder co., ny – usa
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“we’ve hired ucef on a few different occasions to assist on creative development for several of our fashion designer brands. the work he delivered was on brand, well informed, curated and articulated. ucef is a great pleasure to work with — a business minded creative professional with a high sensibility.”
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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 dzikowskidir. 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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“ucef has a truly unique combination of global cultural sensitivity, divine aesthetic and strategic creativity. he was a great partner in building aspirational, visionary creative communication for the Charlie brand as he was able to holistically embrace all touch points of the brand, from packaging to product innovation to communication and brand experience. he is passionately committed to his projects and the overall commercial success of the brand which makes him a great partner.”
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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.”