Mark Hayes
Biography
Mark’s passionate approach to hair design, combined with an unrivalled technical expertise, has inspired hairdressers at Sassoon for over 40 years. In his role as International Creative Director, he travels all over the world coaching, teaching and inspiring.
Mark began his love affair with hair in 1977 as an apprentice at the busy Sassoon London Salon on South Molton Street. Sassoon’s intensive apprentice programme in 1979, he became a first level stylist in the chic Sloane Square salon. With a loyal clientele established, Mark sought a new challenge. In 1980 he moved into teaching at the London school and then onto the acclaimed Academy where his charming manner and impeccable communication skills endeared him to hairdressers from all over the globe. In 1982, he was promoted to Assistant Creative Director at Sassoon Salon Manchester. When promoted again in 1984 to Salon Creative Director, he began taking seminars and showcasing at industry shows, as well as working behind the scenes at photoshoots and catwalk shows. By 1986, Mark was back in London as UK Creative Director, responsible for the education and development of the next generation of Sassoon Creative Directors.
Today, Mark develops each seasonal collection, leading the worldwide demand for Sassoon's Hair Design.
SIGNATURE STYLE
Pared-down looks reflecting my love of modernist art and architecture
PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT
There are a few: Being awarded Fellowship Hairdresser of the Year twice, as well as being nominated for British Hairdresser of the Year eight times, and five times for Creative Head Most Wanted Hair Icon
WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR ROLE
I actively help shape the company and have the opportunity to create an energy and passion for hair in those around me - both a tremendous opportunity and exciting challenge
WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT SASSOON
The fact that passing on knowledge and sharing ideas is key to the brand philosophy – this is something that I totally believe in
Edward Darley
Biography
As UK Colour Director, Edward educates and develops the next generation of Sassoon Colour Directors at the UK Salons & Academies.
Edward’s career path began at the age of eighteen in 1992 whilst working in a small salon in his hometown of Leeds. It was here he realised his ambition to work with the creative talent at Sassoon. After completing his training, he established himself at Sassoon’s Leeds salon, where a loyal clientele saw him rapidly rise through the ranks.
His commitment and dedication, combined with an ambition to travel, propelled his career forward at remarkable speed. His flair for teaching made him a natural choice for the Academy in London and in 2006, his innovation and expertise saw him promoted to UK Colour Director.
Edward regularly travels the world as a member of the International Creative Team presenting shows, seminars and workshops, as well as working alongside International Creative Director Mark Hayes to develop the key trends for the Sassoon Academy and Salon collections.
PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT
Winning the coveted Fellowship Hairdresser of the Year 2016 award left me utterly speechless
WHAT INSPIRES YOU
Travelling to new and colourful locations around the world
WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR ROLE
I love the camaraderie of the Sassoon team
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO SASSOON
That they understand that it’s more than ‘just hairdressing’
Danielle Harvey
Biography
Danielle’s creativity and ambition has earned her the role as UK Assistant Academy Creative Director, for which she leads the Academy Team teaching students of all levels.
Her journey with Sassoon began at the Covent Garden Salon in 1988 where she worked as an assistant. Once fully qualified, she quickly went on to become Creative Cutter at the Manchester Salon where she built a strong client base of 90’s popstars and TV celebrities.
After just one year as a stylist, Danielle was asked to run the Manchester School - a tribute to her enormous talent, impeccable technique and communication skills. Moving back to London in 1993, Danielle went on to become a Cutting Instructor at the London Academy, imparting her knowledge across a range of courses. Since then, she has travelled extensively with the International Team, presenting in onstage demonstrations and contributing to a number of Academy Collections.
Conducting herself with professionalism, style and expertise, Danielle was appointed UK Assistant Academy Creative Director in March 2017.
PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT
Qualifying for Sassoon through the 3-year training programme in just 18 months!
WHAT INSPIRES YOU
The wide cross-section of age ranges, abilities and cultural backgrounds of my students
WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR ROLE
I always look forward to Monday mornings!
TOP TIP
Don’t be afraid to be different
Gareth Vance
Biography
Gareth is the UK Assistant Salon Creative Director, responsible for leading the creative direction of all UK Salons.
Gareth had been hairdressing for five years before joining Sassoon as a Varderer at the Leeds salon in 1994. Thanks to his passion and drive, he was rapidly promoted to Senior Creative Director. Shortly after this, Gareth was asked to impart his skills to others by teaching as a guest instructor at the Sassoon Academy in London on courses designed for beginners, as well as those for Salon Creatives and even International Masters.
With a desire to share his experience and knowledge, Gareth has worked on behalf of Sassoon on a global scale in Australia, Japan, Brazil, Scandinavia, Russia, Spain, Italy, and Belgium. He has also presented at Salon International, The Alternative Hair Show and Fellowship Masterclasses in the UK and Europe to inspire others with his methods.
Conducting himself with the utmost professionalism, style and expertise, Gareth was the natural choice for his current role as UK Assistant Salon Creative Director, which he was appointed in 2007.
PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT
Pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I worked for several years in the hairdressing industry but I felt I had much more to learn. It was only when I started working for Sassoon that I really felt like I had found my purpose.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU
I find inspiration in all kinds of design - from the eclectic eye of Nicolas Ghesquiere, the timeless elegance of Alber Elbaz, the thought process of Tom Dixon, the sensual curves of Eames furniture to the austere geometry of Le Corbusier and Mies Van Der Rohe
WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR ROLE
Utlising perspective and balance to create great work
FAVOURITE WAY TO RELAX
Cooking Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food for my wife and two children, and spending time with my two Birman cats
YOUR MANTRA
Inspire and be inspired
Peter Dawson
Biography
Peter is the European Colour Director, a role that sees him travel internationally as an inspiring educator.
It was in 1975 at the age of 16 that Peter decided to embark on a career in hairdressing. After seeing a photograph of the ‘Brush’ cut by Christopher Brooker, he vowed to learn how to design hair in remarkable ways. Embarking on a three-year apprenticeship splitting his time between Sassoon Leeds and Sassoon Manchester, Peter made the decision to specialise in colour. He still remembers this moment of realisation when he entered the colouring department at Sassoon and feeling a sense of home – a feeling that has stayed with him ever since.
At the end of the 1970s Peter’s individual style and flair allowed him to work at the London Schools and Academies. This was swiftly followed by an invitation to spend a year in Hamburg, Germany as a Colour Director. Then in 1988, his flexibility and expert talent landed him the position of German Colour Director, responsible for the training, organisation and creative development of all the German salons.
In 2007 he became European Colour Director and now directs the quality of colour education and its implementation within the European Sassoon salons.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST SKILL
My ability to take risks and my willingness to go where my career dictates
WHAT INSPIRES YOU
Modern Contemporary Art and Johannes Itten at the Bauhaus, as he was a colour god
WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR ROLE
Experimenting with different colour combinations and considering how they can be transposedonto the head
WHAT IS SASSOON’S MOST DEFINING FEATURE
At Sassoon it’s about getting everything right – that’s what sets us apart, it’s not just serendipity
Scott Cottis
Biography
Scott is the German Creative Director and focuses his energy on the German salons and Barber Shops, cultivating an atmosphere of creativity by encouraging a strong team spirit among staff.
Beginning his career with Sassoon in London in 1985, Scott trained as a Ladies Stylist and Barber. He went on to work in the Leeds and Manchester salons before moving to Germany in 1989 to take up a position in Munich. In 1990, he was made Assistant Creative Director and the year after promoted again to Creative Director.
As a member of the Creative Team, Scott turned his attention to photographic shoots at the London Sassoon Academy, while contributing to trade shows in the UK, Milan, Barcelona and Germany. One show where his work particularly stood out was at the 1992 Bauhaus Exhibition, when he was marked as a creative force to be reckoned with, making him the obvious choice for his 1994 promotion to German Creative Barber.
Although based in Munich, Scott spends time in all five German salons, pouring his creativity into Sassoon’s Barber Shops. It was this eternal enthusiasm for developing a strong aesthetic that earned him his current role as German Creative Director.
PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT
Earning the title of German Creative Director
WHAT INSPIRES YOU
Seeing salon teams work together – this is essential in maintaining a successful, creative working environment
WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR ROLE
I get to travel all over the world doing what I love the most, which is amazing
HOW DO YOU NURTURE CREATIVITY
By ensuring a strong, cohesive team spirit. This cultivates an environment of trust, which will always encourage teams to explore new ideas and routes
Traci Sakosits
Biography
Traci is the North American Creative Director, a position appointed to her as a result of her passion and dedication to Sassoon.
She started her career with Sassoon in 1992 in New York, where her talents were soon recognised and she progressed swiftly. She transferred to the popular Beverly Hills Salon as a stylist in 1994 and was promoted to Assistant Creative Director two years later. Traci’s call to teaching prompted her to move to the Los Angeles Academy in 1997, where she was based for 15 years. While in Los Angeles, she subsequently earned the roles of Creative Director and Regional Creative Director.
Now as North American Creative Director, Traci coaches and inspires Sassoon stylists in Salons and Academies across the country. Thousands of fellow hair professionals and students have been empowered to create by Traci, inspired by her calm temperament, incredible talent and giving personality.
SIGNATURE STYLE
Relaxed, effortless looks
DESCRIBE YOUR ROLE ON ONE SENTENCE
My role allows me to lead shows and seminars around the globe, presenting the latest collections on beauty runways and styling Sassoon editorial shoots
WHAT INSPIRES YOU
Young stylists just staring out in their career, who have a real drive and determination
WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR ROLE
From the very start of my career, I knew I wanted to teach and now I get to do it all the time!
TOP TIP
Never fail to see the potential in someone, no matter how little self-confidence they might have
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO SASSOON
I love sharing knowledge; this is Sassoon’s ethos too so we share the same values, which is important to me
Richie Rivera
Biography
Richie is the North American Color Director, a responsibility that sees him educate and develop the skills of the next generation of colourists across all North American Salons and Academies.
In 1992, Richie began his career with Sassoon at the Sassoon Academy in Santa Monica. Inspired by his love of colour, he went on to complete his Sassoon Salon apprenticeship in Boston in 1993. It was at this location that he truly established himself and his talent behind the chair earned him a fiercely loyal clientele, some of whom he continues to see to this day.
After working successfully as Salon Color Director for 12 years, Richie was named East Coast Regional Color Director in 2009, before receiving the prestigious accolade of his current role as North American Color Director in April 2012.
SIGNATURE STYLE
Classic looks with a modern twist
DESCRIBE YOUR ROLE IN ONE SENTENCE
I travel everywhere, from Japan to London and Brazil and everywhere in between, representing Sassoon collections internationally by leading shows and seminars
WHAT INSPIRES YOU
People who are bold and never afraid to try something new
WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR ROLE
During my 20 years with Sassoon, I’ve been lucky enough to travel across the world sharing my expertise and teaching others about Sassoon’s renowned colour techniques
TOP TIP
Watching and learning about key developments and trends in the industry is a priority if you want to stay ahead of the curve