Vale retail ad industry icon David Mattingly
The Australian ad industry will be saddened to hear of the passing of Australian retail ad industry icon David Mattingly, the former chairman and CEO of Y&R Mattingly, who died today.
Mattingly, who retired in 1998, started his career at Monahan Dayman Adams in Melbourne in the 1970s where he eventually founded the agency’s retail arm MDA Mattingly. When Myer closed its advertising department it appointed the agency to handle its massive ad account. Others clients soon joined Myer at the agency, including Safeway.
MDA Mattingly eventually became Mattingly & Partners, then Y&R Mattingly, before folding into GPYR.
In January this year Mattingly was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM). He is the only Australian inducted into the US Retail Advertising Hall of Fame.
Friend and former colleague Lyle Dayman posted the announcement on Facebook: “On behalf of Brian, Phillip and myself it is with sadness we tell you that Big Dave passed away today. He had been ill for a few months fighting the dreaded Big C but unfortunately lost the battle today. Our thoughts go to Ann, Andrew and Stephen, particularly to Ann who was with him every step of the way since the diagnosis. Ann told me last week on her way to the hospital to bring Dave home that never once during his ordeal, did he ever complain or whinge. Vale David Mattingly.”
Says Ted Horton, founder of Big Red: “Big Dave. The Great Man. The funniest. The most entertaining. The most outrageous. The most loving. The most loved. The biggest nose. The biggest ears. The biggest smoker. The biggest laugh. The biggest personality. Ex-Pharmacist. Ex-Channel 9 Sales Director. Ex-SANFL footballer. Ex-first grade cricketer. What a joy it was to be in his company. Those who knew him know. Those who didn’t can’t possible imagine. ‘Thanks son’, we will miss you.”
Says Philip Gjedsted: “Big Dave was a giant in the advertising world and had a huge influence on me from my first writing job in Melbourne in his retail division in a tiny space in MDA to associate Creative Director of Mattingly in the Pelaco building – the last job in Melbourne before I headed off back to surfing in Sydney, he was totally charismatic, a genuine individual had a wonderful sense of humour, a huge huge unique talent ..Thank you Dave.“
Adds Grant Booker: “So sad as he was such a mighty figure in Melbourne Advertising. He was a very charismatic and influential figure in Australian advertising.”
Gawen Rudder had this to say about his old friend and colleague: “I was privileged to have known him for over forty years, his gruff, forthright, intelligent and often very funny approach to business and life was an inspiration to so many. He was a true innovator in retail. BTW he would be very disappointed to read that he ‘retired’. He never stopped thinking and doing.”
16 Comments
Vale big man. You were the best.
RIP Dave.
Those were the days, and you epitomized them, Dave.
A moment with Mattingly was worth a day with an ordinary Mad Man. Witty, erudite, sometimes outrageous, always empathetic. I have an enduring memory of the look on the face of the Chef at Aucklands top silver service restaurant at the time as David explained to him how to cook tripe properly. He went back for a second helping. How lucky were those of us who worked with him.
Vale David Mattingly OAM.
Big Dave. The Great Man. The funniest. The most entertaining. The most outrageous. The most loving. The most loved. The biggest nose. The biggest ears. The biggest smoker. The biggest laugh. The biggest personality. Ex-Pharmacist. Ex-Channel 9 Sales Director. Ex-SANFL footballer. Ex-first grade cricketer. What a joy it was to be in his company. Those that knew him know. Those that didn’t can’t possible imagine. “Thanks son”, we will miss you.
Larger than life
All of the above thanks Ted.
And having worked for Big Dave over three sojourns, nothing bettered writing and recording his classic Myer Bargain Basement voice-overs – on a ‘Nagra’ (portable tape), in his office, all in one take!!
“Where’s the script son?” “Right, rolling, here we go….
“Ladies drop the chores, forget the washing, get the kids babysat and get down to the Myer Bargain Basement – jump on a tram, hop on a bus, hitch a ride but don’t miss these fantastic bargains all reduced for today only, etc etc.”
And honorary mention goes to one highly memorable (and successful) Myer “Was/is” Sale where Big Dave played the ‘Was” price and I was the “Is” price – we got tangled up midway but it was so good it went to air “Hang on son I’m the “was’ and you’re the ‘is”.
Maybe you had to be there. And fortunately I was.
What a man, what a legend. And what an absolute privilege to have worked with The Big Man back at Pelaco. You gave me my first copywriting job in advertising and for that I’ll be forever grateful.
Very sad news.
I have fond memories of David when I was with MDA Singapore. He was instrumental in the agency gaining the Metro Department Stores account. We had a few laughs, a few steaks and many Fosters and he charmed the Singapoeans with his stories, some of which may have even been true. Great times. Cheers David.
David was a wonderful mentor, husband, father and grandfather – a lovable character and one of the funniest men who ever lived. He had a huge zest for life. After all he was and always will be affectionately known as Big Dave. A legend…
First a client and then ten years spent working for ‘Big Dave” were the best. Thanks for the opportunity David. It was a privilege and often a hoot. Thanks for the tip to use coat hangers not models in Myer ads. You were an original in the very best sense of the word. Love and condolences to Ann and the family.
Not often you have the privilege of working for the bloke who has his name on the building. Thank you, Mr Mattingly – the best time of my advertising life.
RIP Mattingly. Thanks for the opportunities, the laughs and the quote…. LMNA.. RFN!
Big Dave made being ‘great’ look easy. A consummate human being in every respect. Devilish genius and raconteur. Had a yarn for every situation. Facing achingly funny. Forever missed. Never forgotten.
RIP, Dave. Watch out God.
Just found out about David, and have to agree with all the above. Larger than life and one nature’s true gentlemen. Will be greatly missed……