Advertising Creative/Consultant - dda

​2005 - 2045 ... yes, I plan to retire completely at 85

 

Very fortunate to have spent over a decade producing television, radio, press, web, print material and some very odd stuff for intelligent, adventurous clients who have great attitudes to their customers, their staff and the world in general.

 

I've probably been too busy or too self-focussed to say thank you. So, thank you so much to Sfumato, TasBuild, Platinum Homes, iHealth Saunas, Revive Motional Health, Headlines, Justice Department, Pavlovers, It's Personal, Artery, Australian Laser Charge and a whole lot of others who have given me some very interesting projects.

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Creative Director/Board Member - AdvantageCard

​2005 - 2014

 

A great program. Too many cooks. There's a story. Ask me....

 

Marketing Manager - Roberts Real Estate

2005 ish - 2009 ish

 

Did some of my best and most talked about work here. Upset many competitors (always a good sign) and helped turn Roberts into the biggest real estate brand in Tasmania... by far. Roberts were selling more than 30% of all properties sold in Tasmania in the later years, despite having more than 100 competitors... including some mainland giants that had limited impact on our market share. Sadly this has changed dramatically in the last few years.

 

Creative Director - Inferno Promotions

2004 ish - 2005 ish

 

Although this was a short stint (sometimes things just don't work) David Counsell and I still have a great relationship and he has my utmost respect for the work that he and his team do. I still use Inferno to buy media and provide some production services.

 

Communications Manager - Roberts Limited

2001 ish - 2004 ish

 

I have some work in my folio from my days at Roberts Limited that I'm very proud of. Unfortunately a lot of the best of it never saw the light of public gaze.

 

On the upside, we produced annual reports that actually got read. Not just for the numbers... for the stories about our staff and the extraordinary lengths many of them went to in supporting our clients. Our website wasn't just beautiful, it was massive, to cover five major divisions. It was a solid and interesting piece of marketing of which I'm very proud. Take a look now and you'll be very, very disappointed, as I am. It's a mere shadow of it's former self.

 

Having access to a $8million advertising budget was also an upside... and a headache of course. A responsibility that could only be taken very seriously.

 

I have whole campaigns that were ready to run that would have had competitors scrambling to catch up. I'm sure some of these pieces will make it into my folio page:)

 

Jack of all trades - David Dennis Advertising

1994 - 2001

 

Seven most enjoyable years working with some small but active clients like Siscos Waterfront Restaurant, Picasso Hair (now Sfumato), TAFE, Australian Laser Charge, Perfect Prints and others.

 

Creative Director - Neville Jeffress (Hobart) and Armstrongs Advertising and Marketing (Sydney)

1992 - 1994

 

Two years working week-about in both agencies. A week in Sydney... a week in Hobart.

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Art Director - Bosell Ridge (Sydney)

JUST FOR A FEW WEEKS

 

Found myself working with a very interesting (in a good way) Art Director that would have been a blast... but a Creative Director that couldn't see an idea even when it's obvious to the receptionist and the mail boy. Back to Armstrongs for me. I think John Laws son got my job:)

 

Creative Director - Armstrongs Advertising

and Marketing (Sydney)

1988 -1992

 

Recruited to take this massive agency with over 2500 clients to another level creatively.

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This was an exciting time, pitching (and winning) against mega creative agencies like Billie Blue and Saatchi & Saatchi.

 

Art Director - Ogilvy and Mather

1983 - 1988

 

To be honest, I was only Art Director for the last three and a half years.  Production and Studio Manager for a year before that and Production Manager for the first few months.

 

Invited to become a Director in 1988, but fled to the smog of Sydney for a challenge and some much needed dollars:)

 

Unknown Title - Village Cinemas - Tas Drive-in Theatre Holdings

1980 - 1983

 

So, this is complicated. Stood in for the Director of Theatre Operations when he took over from the MD. That was three years with no formal title.

 

I was 21 when I moved into this position, though you could get away with lying about your age back then. They thought I was late 20s. Looked after advertising, wages and other stuff for 12 theatres and some odds and sods.

 

Prior to that... working in reverse order. 3 months as Cinema Manager at the tender age of 20 before moving up to Head Office. 12 months as Assistant Manager of the Cinema and Leisure Centre. 5 weeks as Floor Staff before being promoted to Assistant Manager.

 

Graphic Artist - Banks Paton Advertising

1979 - 1980

 

I'll never forget my first job in an actual ad agency. Got caught by the MD on the first day colouring in like a 4 year old for a television commercial. Too shy to explain that this is what the Art Director had asked me to do.

 

Learned a heap here.

 

Graphic Artist - Fitzgeralds

1978 - 1979

 

So much for being an architect. Learned more about what I was capable of than anything else here. Turns out I can draw:)