To celebrate its 40th birthday UK advertising magazine Campaign has launched its own ‘hall of fame’, a celebration of the 40 people who made British advertising what it is today (a declining market, alas).
Anyway, most of the obvious suspects are there in there, from Charles and Maurice Saatchi through Tim Bell to Frank Lowe, Dave Trott, John Webster and on and on.
And a pretty good list it is too.
It’s not these guys’ fault that advertising is going down the tubes (although it’s interesting that there are hardly any women in this list, given that most ads are aimed at women) but it does encapsulate a period in which people moved from ads to film and TV, mostly to good effect.
Ridley and Tony Scott for example, Hugh Hudson (rather lucky to make this list), Paul Weiland etc.
But Mr Blatherskite, having always been a supporter of equal opportunities (especially girls) does find their absence from this fine list a touch alarming.
Which is maybe why we are where we are (there are lots of female clients these days).