ISHERWOOD QUITS SAATCHI & SAATCHI
Saatchi & Saatchi worldwide creative director Bob Isherwood has confirmed he has quit the network after 22 years, the last 12 as worldwide CD. Isherwood says he leaves the agency without an immediate successor in place.
However, there is no confirmation about Isherwood’s departure from Saatchi & Saatchi. Following a tipoff on Thursday that Isherwood had left, calls and emails to the office of Saatchi worldwide chief Kevin Roberts went unanswered late last week, although one Saatchi New York staffer denied Isherwood had left when asked by CB on Friday.
“For the past 12 years I’ve been focused on the re-invention of Saatchi & Saatchi, now I’ve reached a point where I feel a need to re-invent myself,” Isherwood told CB from his home in Miami.
“My partnership with Worldwide CEO Kevin Roberts has been one of the most dynamic and long lasting in advertising history. Kevin was my client before he joined the company and we’ve shared some incredible experiences together. At this time though I feel compelled to explore some new ideas I have.
“It’s been an incredibly difficult decision for me as you can imagine. Saatchi & Saatchi has been my home and family for so many years. It’s a house I’ve helped build and fill with people I admire, respect and love. Ultimately though I’m not going to be of much help to them if I stop growing. I want to have more than one life in my lifetime.”
Isherwood, who is in his early 60s, told CB that at this point he did not see himself returning to Australia to pursue the next stage of his career. I have an idea for something for President Elect Obama, plus there are lots of opportunities I can see in the US on the client side of our business where creativity can play a key role, particularly in our current economic climate.”
Isherwood says that whatever he does next he hoped it would be the most dynamic part of his advertising career so far: “I have a lot of ideas as I’d hope you’d expect, and now I’m putting a sign on my door, ‘Open for business’.”
Isherwood has been Worldwide Creative Director of Saatchi & Saatchi for the past 12 years with ultimate responsibility for the output of the company’s 150 offices in 84 countries.
He and Worldwide CEO Kevin Roberts are jointly credited with redefining Saatchi & Saatchi as an ideas company rather than ad agency, blazing a trail others have followed.
In the process of implementing the strategy Isherwood has become one of advertising’s most influential creative thinkers.
Isherwood is widely known in the industry for his presentations of the legendary Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors Showcase the most widely attended seminar at the Cannes International Ad Festival.
He is also the driving force behind the World Changing Ideas Award which attracts an illustrious panel of judges from Buzz Aldrin to Lou Reed, and has co- authored a book on the subject.
Isherwood is the creative credited with introducing P&G’s top management to the Cannes Festival, a move that resulted in many other major marketers following, probably increasing the creative opportunity on big brands all over the world.
He was President of the Cannes Advertising Festival for TV, print and outdoor in 2001,elected into the Clio Hall of Fame, and received the Clio lifetime achievement award in 2007.
In 2006 he joined Bob Geldof and Malcolm McClaren on a speaking tour in Sydney and Auckland called ‘The Influentials’.
He is a member of RMIT University’s Acclaimed Alumni and received the first ever Honorary Doctorate in Communications from RMIT in 2007.
Earlier this year Isherwood participated in the ‘2020’ initiative of Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.
Prior to his career at Saatchi & Saatchi he was with Collett Dickenson Pearce in the UK for 10 years, an agency widely regarded at the time as the most creative in the world.
Returning to his native Australia in 1982 he became a founding partner of The Campaign Palace in Sydney.
He joined Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney as deputy CD in 1986, rising to creative director in 1989. He has been Worldwide Creative Director and member of the Executive Board since 1996.
45 Comments
Legend.
Bob. I can’t wait to see what you do next! Exciting times.
wow.
that is a huge blow to the soul of Saatchi’s. Nobody did more for the company or its people than him.
He’s advertising’s Bernie Ecclestone.
One of the great Aussies in the ad business. Good luck Bob in your new life. You contributed so much to Saatchi and leading the Aussie ad charge into the big wide world. A true gentleman and one of the best identifiers of great talent I know.
So there’s a job going at Saatchi’s then?
The guy is pure gold. I’ll never forget a speech he made to us naive RMIT students. That speech has kept me going in this sometimes awesome/sometimes complete bastard of an industry.
Thanks Bob and good luck.
A genuine advertising superstar.
Top bloke too.
I’m leaving Saatchis too, perhaps we can pool our lunches Bob?
the best eye for talent in the business. bar none.
just think of the people who have called him boss.
I was in awe of him when I was freelancing at Saatchis in the 90s…..and scared to death when I had to present and add to him.
Thankfully he said nice job and only changed one thing…..and he was right
Don’t want to rain on Bob’s parade, but he was never a founding partner of The Palace Sydney. Think you’ll find Gordon and many others preceded Bob.
Biggest shoes ever to fill.
Deserves an award for encouragement.
Best eye for talent, bar none?
Isn’t he the bloke who appointed the CDs of Saatchi’s Sydney in the 90s?
What a fucking disaster.
Signed,
Bitter & Twisted Sad Old Fuck.
Can’t wait to see your big idea! – Barack
Did he work on the business side of Saatchi’s as well as the creative side?
I thought you already won Barack?
Obama wants a 30 second TVC?? He’s already made a few of those hasnt he?
Who will replace him… seriously? any true insights?
steve back for WWCD
Tom Eslinger would be the man for the job.
The global meltdown and now this!
The final straw!
craig davis will replace him.
bet on it.
evidence:
high profile
saatchi in his blood already
a few months back quit jwt for unclear reasons…
2 days. 24 comments.
Forgotten already.
Craig would be a good choice.
Although the whole network wishes Droga was still in the family.
Planet bob will be missed.
Now Bob the builder has gone Big Kev can now be as creative as he likes and believe me Big Kev is creative just ask him.
Tony Granger.
Vote 1 Steve Carlin.
The most unassuming genuine creative I’ve met.
Hey 7:21, that prompts the question – where IS Chaos these days?
Current score in the over 60’s ad game
Isherwood 30 comments Booker 60 comments
1:16 – Sorely missed!
I think Chaos is working at Saatchi’s London, heading up Toyota.
Strange:
http://www.ogilvy.co.uk/ogilvy-advertising/index.php/2008/05/16/bags-and-bags-of-safety/
Haven’t heard from him in yonks, hope all’s well.
I reckon Andy Greenway will take it.
Heck, 4:48, if Chaos is at Ogilvy, that’d put him fair and square under Malcolm Poynton, which just goes to show you what a saint he really is.
Hasn’t Poynton left Ogilvy?
Chaos, where are you old bean?
Lynchy, what’s the mail on Poynton?
It seems Poynton left Ogilvy in March this year. Must have slept through that one.
But where is he now?
Bob’s chucking in his job at an age when Booker’s career is just taking off.
Difference is, Bob’s had a career. When you reach the top, where else do you go?
I remember an evening in the 80’s when Bob was sharing some great experiences at the old Australian Type Directors Club in Sydney.
He preached ‘never let typography be an imposition on the proposition’.
One of the best lessons in advertising that I ever got.
Thanks Bob
I heArd NobBy WiLl leavE D5 aNd TakE iT in tHe SprIng.
Way to go Gordon fourth place!
Love this shot- Actually I took this shot at Clio in Miami Beach for Bob’s ‘On-Going’ Lifetime Achievement Award!!!!!
But Bob (the subject) actually made it work so well!
Jonah Moriarty
South Beach News / Miami News Desk
Miami Beach