![[AdLife] Micky Denehy: "I loved my 30 years in advertising and now I love teaching others"](https://media.iqads.ro/2013/01/photo-large-24906-cover-850.jpg)
Starting as an account at Ogilvy & Mather London and Gold Greenless Trott, Micky Denehy was then named CEO at Bates in Istanbul and Dubai, summing up 27 years in advertising. But this is not how his career ended. He went on to join the regional management team at Bates and Saatchi & Saatchi EMEA. To this day Micky follows his passion for multiculturalism and education. Throughout his career he was been part of organizing training programs for agency staff and he is the founder of the European Association of Communication Angencies, a society that aims to raise the industry's standards in the region.
During his visit in Bucharest for the workshop "Success in New Business" (June 2012) we asked Micky to tell us about his advertising career and favourite campaigns.
I grew up on the streets of Farnham in the UK.
As a child, I dreamt of becoming a farmer, a writer and an explorer.
The craziest thing I did in high school is that I played field hockey for England school boys on a tour across Canada against Canadian boys who played as if it was ice hockey – body checks and all.
In college I was the guy who played a lot of sport and was Head of School.
What is great about our agency is that we inspire the next generation of advertising executives.
Because I work from home my desk has a view of my garden.
My relationship status with advertising: I loved my 30 years in advertising and now I love teaching others.
I decided I wanted to work in advertising when I saw the fun my dad was having at Bates and then Lintas.
What is great about working in advertising is that ideas can transform a business.
The work I am most proud of is the advertising I did for Cadbury in the UK and launching Fanatik sports newspaper in Istanbul.
The most rewarding moment in my career was when I moved to Istanbul and found a whole new world of communications awaited me and that I could make a difference outside of the UK.
My favorite place to fish insights from is while out running in the countryside.
Great creative campaigns have in common consumer understanding and a team prepared to fight every inch of the way to keep the idea intact.
The best clients are the ones that are prepared to trust, share with their agency and stick to the rules they lay down at the start of the relationship.
The worst clients are the ones that assume 100% control of all communications and leave no room for ideas.
I feel most frustrated when I am with people who lack energy and passion.
In my opinion the best TV spot in Guinness - Surfer – product differentiation captured in its purest most compelling form and Apple has the best Brand Communication – from design onwards everything sings from the same hymn sheet!
The best piece of advice I ever received from someone in the industry is be true to yourself.
The worst piece of advice (in my first week in an agency) – don’t call yourself Micky, change to Michael (I ignored it!).
My best sources of inspiration are keeping my eyes and ears open and staying energised always.
In my browser history you can find sport, Google Maps.
An old picture of me (and the story behind it) – me 3rd from left in back row with the intake of graduate trainees into Ogilvy and Mather 1883 (all remain friends except, sadly, for the girl in the sweater – Louise Davies who died of cancer).
