Legendary Roger MacDonnell gets a Roasting
By Roger Tompkins
The famous Ridger’s farewell took place in Auckland last Friday night. In a room mainly full of tweed and Grecian 2000 was an eclectic gathering of industry greats gathered to celebrate the life, leadership and career of one of the region’s great admen, Roger MacDonnell, industry stalwart and Colenso founding partner. He was subject to a rousing party to celebrate his four decades in the industry.
He faced a humorous roasting celebrating his career from colleaguespast and present, in a brilliant speech from budding author RichardMaddocks, who told us the story of a great and passionate ad man withrelentless energy who empowered his creative directors to push fororiginal creative solutions.
An hilarious insight from ad industry guru and ex creative partner LenPotts had many of the guests laughing so hard they fell out of theirZimmer frames.
Ex Toyota CEO Bob Miller gave a passionate speech that touched on thegreat working relationship between Colenso and Toyota, a relationship thatmade and sustained Toyota as the top selling car in New Zealand fornearly two decades.
Hilton Mackley was the last speaker. The CFO of theClemenger/BBDO network reminded all gathered of the humble start thatthe two had way back in the early sixties. Starting together in themailroom at Charles Haines in Wellington, Hilton also remindedMacDonnell that he owed him for cheese sandwich and a chocolate milkshake from 8th August 1965…
MacDonnell was given the chance to reply and gave a heartfelt speech. Ina room full of family, friends, ex wives and clients both old and new,he talked warmly and graciously about the great people he had workedwith and the passion he still has for adverting and creativity.
He speech brought smiles to the faces of the partygoers, many of whom hadtraveled far: David Blackley and Hilton Mackley from Melbourne, RichardMaddocks from Sydney as well a good contingent from Wellington: Duster,Paul Nagy, Tony Stevens and Chris Martin. In the crowd were many familiarfaces of the old guard: Gary Gwyn, Neil Livingstone, Terry ‘pockets’Cornelius, Hannerhan. Along with the new guard Jim Moser, Brent Smart,Neil Livingstone and Nick Worthington. During the long montage ofmemorable spots the crowd foot-tapped to hundreds of jingles writtenand produced by the great Murray Grindley, who we found looking verypale. When asked what was wrong, he spluttered that he hadn’t invoiced for the pinky bar jingle from 1973…
It’s with a tear in our eye that we say goodbye for now to one of thegreat men of advertising and hope that we get to share an insight into his wisdom and passion for the business as a speaker or writer atupcoming industry functions or in leading industry publications.
4 Comments
Was a ripper of a night and a huge privilege to be there with so many golden greats from our industry including one or two Gods. Almost as much of a privilege as it was to work with Rog for so many years.
I hear the only real old fuck of the industry is retiring soon. And not before time. He’s been hanging in there, doing nothing and shitting on people for 40 years while Macdonnell has been busy making great ads for 40 years. As for Rog, man you’re a legend. Wish you were staying on.
6.09. Be careful. He notes everything about everyone…in his little black book in his Little Jack corner.
I can guess who 6.09 is talking about. If he retires, the whole agency will party for the rest of the year.