Twenty years in the making, practical and hands on. An old head on young shoulders, eloquent and disciplined, experienced, business-led and outcome-focused. We’re a mid-sized agency. We live in the digital world and we create magical brand experiences.
We believe branding is a power for good, helping organisations to become more accountable, better employers and more responsible corporate citizens. We want relationships based on goodwill, fairness, curiosity, openness, availability and respect. This applies equally to clients, suppliers, ourselves and others we work with. We’re smart, reliable, disciplined, expert, unflappable, tenacious and fun.
Insight informs strategy. Strategy shapes creative expression. From this foundation, we build intelligent, beautiful brands that connect hearts and minds, are ownable, memorable, influential, and drive success.
Lezlie is a highly skilled creative director and brand strategist with over 25 years of experience in the industry. Her extensive background encompasses numerous projects across the private, public, non-profit, and community sectors. Lezlie is a digital expert with high-level proficiency in all areas of production, including print, signage, environments, and packaging. Her experience also includes developing and executing promotional plans, as well as directing photography and videography shoots.
Warren has worked as a brand strategist for over 20 years and holds an MBA from the University of Auckland.
He has led several large-scale branding projects in both the public and private sectors. Warren is an expert in producing documents such as tenders, organisational profiles, and annual reports for numerous organisations, including Fletcher Building, NZRU, McConnell Dowell, DB Breweries, Auckland Council, and Watercare.
Michelle graduated at the top of her class with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. She is a DINZ Gold Pin Winner and a regular finalist in the design industry’s Best Awards. She has worked at Marque for over 10 years.
Michelle possesses strong ideation and typography skills, along with extensive design experience in both print and digital formats. She has led brand projects across various sectors, including primary, logistics, infrastructure, health, power, and beverages.
Sophie studied at Monash University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in design and visual communication. After graduating, she worked in Melbourne for 10 years before relocating to Auckland in 2021. Sophie joined Marque in 2023. She has significant experience across all areas of brand development and implementation. In particular, Sophie has advanced expertise in packaging design and production. Sophie is an excellent communicator. In addition to her design responsibilities, she regularly interacts with clients and production houses.
Simeen holds a Bachelor of Design and Visual Arts in Graphic Design from Unitec. She is an experienced and well-rounded designer. Having run her own business and freelanced for various companies, Simeen also served as a Graphic Designer at Fletcher Construction, where she contributed to several of the company’s brands. In addition to her design versatility, Simeen manages and oversees all client social media activities and campaigns.
Kaleb has over 15 years of branding experience, including working for Interbrand London. He leads strategy for all brands and employer brands, excelling at liaising with clients’ internal stakeholders. Kaleb brings substantial expertise in realising the potential of digital strategy for organisations and in leading the digital education of individuals and teams. He has developed Tellus, a proprietary tool that gathers brand insights, enabling customers to track, understand, evaluate, and improve brand relationships.
Che studied Computer Science at the University of Auckland and has fifteen years of experience working on websites and web applications. His expertise lies in web development, strategy, front-end precision coding, application design and development, and, more recently, developing AI-enabled applications. Che adopts best web practices and continually researches the opinions of leading thinkers. He approaches projects from a robust, practical knowledge base, and his solutions are always respectful of design considerations.
Lezlie Mearns
Creative Director
lezliem@marque.co.nz
Lezlie is a highly skilled creative director and brand strategist with over 25 years of experience in the industry. Her extensive background encompasses numerous projects across the private, public, non-profit, and community sectors. Lezlie is a digital expert with high-level proficiency in all areas of production, including print, signage, environments, and packaging. Her experience also includes developing and executing promotional plans, as well as directing photography and videography shoots.
Warren Mearns
Director
warrenm@marque.co.nz
Warren has worked as a brand strategist for over 20 years and holds an MBA from the University of Auckland.
He has led several large-scale branding projects in both the public and private sectors. Warren is an expert in producing documents such as tenders, organisational profiles, and annual reports for numerous organisations, including Fletcher Building, NZRU, McConnell Dowell, DB Breweries, Auckland Council, and Watercare.
Michelle Ren (née So)
Design Director
michelles@marque.co.nz
Michelle graduated at the top of her class with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. She is a DINZ Gold Pin Winner and a regular finalist in the design industry’s Best Awards. She has worked at Marque for over 10 years.
Michelle possesses strong ideation and typography skills, along with extensive design experience in both print and digital formats. She has led brand projects across various sectors, including primary, logistics, infrastructure, health, power, and beverages.
Sophie Lauder
Senior Designer
sophiel@marque.co.nz
Sophie studied at Monash University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in design and visual communication. After graduating, she worked in Melbourne for 10 years before relocating to Auckland in 2021. Sophie joined Marque in 2023. She has significant experience across all areas of brand development and implementation. In particular, Sophie has advanced expertise in packaging design and production. Sophie is an excellent communicator. In addition to her design responsibilities, she regularly interacts with clients and production houses.
Simeen Douglas
Graphic Designer & Digital Marketing Specialist
simeend@marque.co.nz
Simeen holds a Bachelor of Design and Visual Arts in Graphic Design from Unitec. She is an experienced and well-rounded designer. Having run her own business and freelanced for various companies, Simeen also served as a Graphic Designer at Fletcher Construction, where she contributed to several of the company’s brands. In addition to her design versatility, Simeen manages and oversees all client social media activities and campaigns.
Kaleb Francis
Head of Strategy
kalebf@marque.co.nz
Kaleb has over 15 years of branding experience, including working for Interbrand London. He leads strategy for all brands and employer brands, excelling at liaising with clients’ internal stakeholders. Kaleb brings substantial expertise in realising the potential of digital strategy for organisations and in leading the digital education of individuals and teams. He has developed Tellus, a proprietary tool that gathers brand insights, enabling customers to track, understand, evaluate, and improve brand relationships.
Che Mearns
Web Developer
che@jiminy.co.nz
Che studied Computer Science at the University of Auckland and has fifteen years of experience working on websites and web applications. His expertise lies in web development, strategy, front-end precision coding, application design and development, and, more recently, developing AI-enabled applications. Che adopts best web practices and continually researches the opinions of leading thinkers. He approaches projects from a robust, practical knowledge base, and his solutions are always respectful of design considerations.
Clients
We work with well-known corporate brands and large public sector organisations; emerging and boutique brands; Iwi and Māori trusts; offshore and onshore; 100-year-old companies and startups; manufacturers and service providers; not-for-profits, a museum, orchestra, and army; construction and infrastructure companies, banks, insurers, money managers, lenders, retailers, law firms, magazines and colleges; a health provider and brewer.
Tikanga Māori
Kia ora
We’re still learning about the Māori side of our New Zealand culture.
It’s part of being a kiwi and living in Aotearoa. It locates us.
One thing we do know is that tikanga Māori should be part of the everyday, not an artefact to be wheeled out on ‘special’ occasions.
Does te reo Māori, icons, graphics, values and protocols only belong to brands for Māori organisations? Our answer is no.
As a brand attribute tikanga Māori needs to be relevant, authentic and woven into the brand’s fabric. This is something we achieve with the guidance of our ngā kaitiaki.
