Thinkbox
A few words about Robert
Robert started his career as an advertising copywriter at WCRS in 1984 and has gone on to work at some of the best agencies in London.
He has created advertising campaigns for Virgin, Lego, Landrover, Jaguar, Volvo, BMW, The Times and Sunday Times, L'Oreal, Citibank, Microsoft, Mastercard, American Airlines, and more.
He founded The Banks Partnership in 1991and Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe in 1993, which became one of the UK's most successful independent agencies before being bought by Y&R.
After leaving RKCR/Y&R, Robert led McCann Erickson EMEA for several years, and then became a non-exec director at Steak Media before starting Beta in 2009.
Alongside Beta, he also founded its sister company High50 – the world's first luxury brand and editorial platform for contemporary, well-heeled people over 50.
More about Robert's 3 great ad choices
Nike: Kick It
In October 1992, the first TV commercial for Nike by Simons Palmer Denton Clemmow and Johnson was a huge success for Nike, at a time when the UK football boot market was dominated by Adidas.
With the soundtrack, Kick It, by A Tribe Called Quest, the live action was perfectly complemented, and the ad won the Creative Circle Award for Direction 1993 and two D&AD Awards.
The ad was written by Chris Palmer, art directed by Mark Denton and directed by Tony Kaye.
- Agency: Simons Palmer Denton Clemmow and Johnson
- Creative: Chris Palmer/ Mark Denton
- Director: Tony Kay
Dunlop: Tested For The Unexpected
In November 1993, Dunlop firmly established its name with this surreal and controversial film, setting itself apart from other tyre manufacturers.
Set to the Velvet Underground’s Venus in Furs, the ad was filmed in black and white, with colour added in post-production, a groundbreaking technique at the time.
Directed by Tony Kaye, the ad won two D&AD Yellow Pencil Awards 1994. The ad was made by AMV BBDO and art director by Walter Campbell.
- Agency: Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO
- Creatives: Walter Campbell/ Tom Carty
- Director: Tony Kaye
- Production Co: Tony Kaye Films
BBC: Perfect Day
Released in September 1997, 'Perfect Day’ showed the BBC’s range of musical offerings to viewers and listeners.
The ad was filmed at the rate of three or four musical stars a day, taking over a year to complete.
Directed by Gregory Rood and produced by the Paul Weiland Film Company, it was dubbed one of 1997's most beautifully crafted "commercials" and the creative highlight of the year by Campaign magazine.
The film was the first in a number of big-budget, prolific films promoting BBC TV and radio, marking a departure for BBC marketing. ‘Perfect Day’ won the D&AD Yellow Pencil Award 1998.
- Agency: Leagas Delaney, London
- Creatives: Ian Ducker/ Will Farquhar
- Production Co: Paul Weiland Film Company
- Director: Gregory Rood
