The above proof is very nice, here I provide another idea. The real question is that if $f$ has a pole, then $e^f$ has an essential singularity.
Assume that the conclusion is false, then there exist an integer $k$ and an analytic function $g$ in some disc $|z|<\delta$, for example, $g(0)\neq0$, such that $e^f=z^kg$,
$$f'=\frac{(e^f)'}{e^f}=\frac{k}{z}+\frac{g'}{g}$$
integrating it on the contour $|z|=\frac{\delta}{2}$ we find $k=0$, since $g$ is analytic. Using the fact that $g(0)\neq0$ we can find another analytic function $h$ in the disc $|z|<\delta$(actually we should shrink this disc), such that $e^f=g=e^h$, so $f=h+2n\pi i$, $f$ has a removable singularity, contradiction!