Vale Dave ‘Devo’ Walden – the legendary, larger-than-life giant of the NZ advertising industry
The New Zealand advertising industry will be saddened to hear of the passing of Dave ‘Devo’ Walden, the legendary, larger-than-life giant of the business who will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Devo co-founded Whybin\TBWA Group New Zealand in 1997 with old friend Scott Whybin (who he worked with at The Campaign Palace in the halcyon days of the 80s), departing the agency in December 2013 after a glorious 16 years of creative and business success. In January 2014 he started his own shop, Boatshed 73 Co.
With the best booming voice in the business, Devo was also the master, master of ceremonies, a role he fulfilled whenever asked, whether it was for the Axis Awards or at several Campaign Brief NZ Legendary Lunches, for which we will be forever grateful. (Such was our regard for Devo, he was one of the very few agency CEOs invited to what was primarily a lunch for creative directors).
On Devo’s watch, driven by ECD Andy Blood, Whybin\TBWA picked up two Cannes Grand Prix, 15 Lions, one D&AD Yellow pencil, six One Show pencils and a Grand Clio.
Here is the tribute video played on that special night starring the likes of Roy Meares, Mike Hutcheson, Andy Blood and Barbara Chapman amongst other NZ industry figures.
Devo is survived by his wife Annie and two children Joanna and Michael.
10 Comments
So sorry to hear about Devo’s passing.
He was my all time favourite account man.
When other suits were begging the creative team to
go to a creative presentation, Devo would be begging them
not to.
Reminds me of another legendary suit, Frank Lowe.
When a major client begged to meet the creative team,
Frank said, ‘ Oh no, you’ll only depress them.’
Those were the days.
And Devo was very much a part of them.
o
We’ll miss you, Devo.
I echo that bro. x
Very sad. I wrote this tribute to Devo on my Facebook page and am reposting here:
I am very sad to hear today that David Walden, known as ‘Devo’ to pretty much everyone, has died.
In an increasingly grey business, Devo was technicolor, 3D iMax and surround sound.
He would not so much walk into a room, as arrive under full sail, arms unfurled as if to say, ‘I’m here, the party can start now’. And it did. He had that ‘charisma’ thing that I will never understand but always admire and envy. When on form, he could bring a party, a meeting, or a client along with him seemingly by sheer force of personality. Feeling the full force of Devo’s charm on you was like having the sun shine on you.
The more perceptive and braver clients also spotted the exceptionally sharp strategic thinker just behind the jokes, stories and antics.
The clients who did buy in to David’s vision often possessed strong personalities themselves, and were usually rewarded with an agency and campaigns that worked well above the norm. The ASB Bank campaign – okay Barbara, ‘ASB BANK’ – was surely the best brand building campaign seen in New Zealand since Toyota Hi-Lux.
Unfortunately, New Zealand is a small market and smart, perceptive and brave clients are damn thin on the ground.
The more common sorts are the grayish career types, intent on getting to their next review intact, with backsides covered and no controversies to come up in discussion. There are an awful lot of them, and David was never going to be their choice of adman, hence Whybin/TBWA, though successful, never want stratospheric as it deserved to. I often wondered just how far Devo could have gone in a much bigger market: LA or SF for instance.
Inside the agency, there were no such qualms. Everyone wanted to work for Devo. It was fun. You could do good work. You were proud to say where and who you worked for.
For a man his size, he had incredible energy. He was everywhere all the time: harangueing client service, prodding creative, quizzing media, talking with those new bits of the agency I don’t the name of. He wanted to know what was going on in his agency and what was coming out of it. Oh, and he liked to cause mischief, play match-maker, and occasionally tease folks mercilessly.
Devo loved good creative work as passionately as any creative, and even during the crisis moments never forgot advertising is supposed to be fun. Among his body of catch-cries was, ‘It’s only advertising, not a cure for cancer.’ There were limits of course, and another of his catch-cries was, ‘Get back to work!’
A few years ago, I fell out with Devo over a matter involving a lost £5 note, or an attempt to steal a major client, or something like that. After the dust settled, I left to make a new start in Asia. I am sorry I never made the effort to say hello to him again, have the inevitable drink, and say sorry.
Too late now. But as my final word, I’ll say I have been lucky enough in my advertising career to work for and with some truly outstanding MDs and CEOs – the titles vary, but the job is the same. People like James Hall, Lionel Hunt, Stephen Mangham, and Jaime Prieto . And David Walden. One of the very best. Advertising is poorer for losing you.
Sad passing indeed. Top bloke.
Devo you were one of the best.
Thanks for the many many laughs
and the very fond memories.
Very sad.You will be missed.
I had the pleasure of working with Devo from ‘97 to 2000.
He was one of that rare breed who genuinely believed that nothing was impossible.
I remember three things from that time.
Lunch, winning and laughing.
He was an extraordinary man.
Surrounded by an extraordinary family.
Who share extraordinary memories.
Annie, Jo and Mike our thoughts are with you.
The expression ‘one off’ will now be retired.
Matt’s right. If ever the description ‘one off’ was meant for anyone, it was meant for Devo. And beneath the bluster, the lunches, the entertainment, the fun, lay a warm, kind heart. To Annie, Jo and Mike – the thoughts and prayers of the hundreds, if not thousands, of his friends and colleagues are with you and that wonderful man you call your husband and father.
Dearest Dave,
I don’t know quite how to write this.
I guess the first mistake is to type it.
My hand writing is still pretty good but it’s just easier to type as there is no spell check on my note paper.
Anyway, I just want to say how much we / I enjoyed our youth I have indelible memories in my mind of adventures we have shared.
From trips to Bay Park in Westies Model A with Brian’s tent in the back to frivolous times on the road in the Sprite [D.O Don’t put the boards out yet] and of course the big “O”
From those early years to the present you have always been a character
larger than life itself.
You have succeeded in ways that many people only dream of.
The fact that things aren’t going as well as they should right now be most likely the result of having lived 5 lifetimes in one.
Dave, you have so much dignity and I am sure you will leave a legacy of fun and indulgent beauty behind.
You will always be remembered by those that have had the privilege of your company.
Your way of celebrating life has always been a constant.
Life is fragile and we are all only mortal.
The fact that some are called earlier than others is testament to the fact that some
live a fuller life.
And I am sure you will not be questioned on that point.
I am grateful that we have had the time to reconnect over the past few years.
Although we haven’t seen each other for some time it has been in our common industry that we have somehow been connected all through our absence.
The fact that we had the most positive and decadent day together at your home is testament that old friends just pick up where they left off in their youth.
I have found it difficult to keep in touch as I simply don’t know how to.
Derek keeps me up to date with your illness and the best I find I can do is feel helpless.
Dave, you will always be special to me as I have not had a friend quite like you.
Annie is a beautiful lady and your family, although we haven’t met, I am sure will be a great support during this difficult period.
I can’t begin to imagine how challenging life is right now for all of you.
I’m not sure how to finish this letter apart from wishing you the best and please put some steam aside for me.
Love.Always.
OZ
My business partner in South Africa,Precision Meters (Pry) Ltd. Gave awesome business advice and was much loved by the factory staff in Cape Town. Many a lunches and bottles of Constantiaberg Merlot wine sunk. It’s 2022 and I still see that face with chuckle and with arms folded saying…: so where’s the wine mate. Sleep tight Devo. X