ONE of Hollywood's top creative talents has turned his back on movieland America after being lured to the bright lights here.

Tim John worked with some of the world's most famous film stars and household-name brands while in sun-drenched California for seven years.

Now the image-maker is weaving his own particular brand of marketing magic at a leading multi-media agency in Southampton.

It is thought to be the first time an ad agency in the city has imported someone with such client pedigree.

Father of two Tim, who describes himself as "12 stone nine and well into my 40s", has been given an enviable but tough remit to build up the international profile of Southampton based Lawton.

The 26-year-old home-grown agency, which employs 110 people and is conservatively worth £10m, has contracts with global clients like food giant Nestle, movie producer Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and computer manufacturer IBM.

Tim's film credits include The Man Who Knew Too Little, starring Bill Murray as a man mistaken for a spy, and the Max Headroom Show, a cult TV series he co-wrote.

Other previous clients have included Kellogg's, Nestle, Rolex, Guinness, Marks & Spencer, DeBeers and the Terminator himself, movie star and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger.

English-born Tim has also been behind pulling the creative strings behind Spitting Image, the satirical BBC show involving latex puppets based on famous characters from British and international life.

He said of his life: "Taking on this role is the next step for me in my career. I have worked for everyone from Burger King to Bill Murray and so I'm not shy of a challenge. Trying to build on an already extremely successful reputation is very exciting."

Tim has also brought on board the talents of a new senior copywriter, Jon Rolls.

Jon's background is also diverse, having worked for Saatchi and Saatchi, the Conservative Party, Mr Sheen, Pedigree Chum, British Airways and Galaxy.