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Today (September 17) is a big day at Ogilvy & Mather: the agency’s

50th anniversary.

Has any individual had more influence on our business than David

Ogilvy?

An amazing number of talented people around the world started with or

benefited from O&M training. In this country, for example, the two best

creative directors I know of - David Abbott of AMV and John Webster of

BMP, as well as others like Wally Olins.

Sadly, I only got to know him in his mid-70s. His books give you some

idea of the man - witty, sometimes sardonic, and full of good stories -

but don’t fully convey what fun he can be, and how charming. His

autobiography, Blood, Brains and Beer, was reissued recently. Though

well written and absorbing, he told me its sales when first published

disappointed him.

I think I know why. The best autobiographies are not just personal, but

indiscreet. This isn’t. Another book, The Unpublished David Ogilvy, is

perhaps more revealing, but it is almost all about business. He seemed

very private. Every time I asked, ’How are you?’ he changed the subject,

except once when he responded with some bitterness, ’I am old’.

He is calculating in a disarming sort of way. Once we were making a

video in Paris. Before starting he took off his jacket. ’Do you know why

I do that?’ he asked. ’It’s to make them think I’m not an old fart.’

Throughout the filming he bummed cigarettes from the cameraman,

illustrating another characteristic: some reluctance to put his hand in

his pocket.

Afterwards he invited me to lunch. I asked for a starter and a main

course: ’Hurry up,’ he said, rather grumpily. When the bill came he

asked the waiter if they took American Express - one of our clients. The

man said ’no’, and David muttered, ’Oh dear, we’ll have to pay cash’.

Then he pulled out 150FF to pay - but he had misread the bill. It was

not 149FF, but 449FF. ’I’m afraid you’re living in the past, David,’ I

said. ’I preferred it then,’ he responded, before asking if I could lend

him some money.

Afterwards I had to rush to catch a plane, pausing only to thank him for

buying me lunch.

He was a natural teacher, couldn’t help giving you advice all the time,

often surprising, but always wise. He could spot talent immediately and

kept in touch with an astonishing number of bright people, not just at

O&M but elsewhere. How he found the energy I don’t know.

I once rang up our Singapore office. A young chap called Chris Foo

answered.

When I gave my name, he said, ’I’m reading your book’. When we chatted I

learned he corresponded regularly with David Ogilvy, who had told him to

read it.

David is an indefatigable, but eccentric, worker. Aged 80, he rang me

one Christmas Day. There were no preliminaries. ’What do you think is

wrong with Ogilvy & Mather?’ he asked. ’I’ll write you a report,’ I

said.

’Merry Christmas,’ he replied.