Tom's pic from the Saatchi Faces Series

Tom Ghiden is an Assistant Account Executive on Head & Shoulders. Before joining SaatchiNY, he worked as a production assistant for Ashes and Snow. If you’re interested in learning more about him and his work, feel free to visit his LinkedIn page.

WHAT DO YOU DO AT SAATCHI & SAATCHI?
AAE on Head & Shoulders

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
I was a CIT (Counselor-In-Training) when I was teenager at Camp Sangamon, which was the summer camp I went to growing up.  At the time, I thought it was the best job ever: Yes, we were expected to clean the kitchen after meals, and clean the camper bathrooms, but it was basically like going hanging out with all your friends for the summer.  Turns out, my parents were actually paying for me to clean the bathrooms, and my “salary” was a kick back of my tuition.  Is that still considered a job?

WHAT LED YOU ON THE PATH YOU’RE ON TODAY?
A love of things creative, without a single creative bone in my body.  I needed to find other ways to feel like a participant in the creative process.

IF YOU WEREN’T IN ADVERTISING, WHAT CAREER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO TRY?
Touring musician.  I have the impression all they do is sleep all day, and travel to great parties all night.  And I’m sure I could master some instrument.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE YOUTUBE VIDEO?
My college roommates were adamant this baby was me as a child.

TELL US SOMETHING SURPRISING ABOUT YOURSELF:
I worked as a photographer’s assistant for a couple years before starting at Saatchi.  My boss was Gregory Colbert, he created Ashes and Snow.  No day was boring and I was lucky enough to get a lot of invaluable experience in photography and artistry.

WHAT ARE YOUR LOVEMARKS?
Apple.  Starbucks.  Whole Foods. Brown University.

FAVORITE CHILDHOOD TELEVISION PROGRAM?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  It came on at 4pm every day.  Family dinner was planned around the Turtles.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CREATIVE PURSUIT?
I’ve always wished to be a good photographer.

WHAT BLOGS/MAGAZINES/BOOKS/PAPERS/WEBSITES CAN YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT?
Blogs: NY Mag’s Daily Intel, Stereogum, Huffington Post

Magazines: Rolling Stone

BOOK THAT YOU’RE CURRENTLY READING?
H&S Account Supervisor Lisa Stroh recommended The Hunger Games.  We both have an unexplained love of young adult supernatural novels.

A GUILTY PLEASURE FOR ME IS:
Watching Netflix Instant Stream all Sunday afternoon

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE GREATEST INVENTION IS IN YOUR LIFETIME AND WHY?
Netflix Instant Stream and Sunday afternoons.  See above.

WHAT’S THE LAST GREAT TRIP YOU WENT ON?
Egypt for Christmas.  With Egypt’s current political climate it’s very special to have visited, and experienced the culture, just before the upheaval.