Vale Dave ‘Devo’ Walden – the legendary, larger-than-life giant of the NZ advertising industry

| | 10 Comments

WALDO.jpgDEVO.jpgThe 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.