Dan Wieden, the legendary ad man and Co-founder and President of independent creative agency Wieden+Kennedy behind Nike’s ‘Just Do It’, Old Spice and many other iconic campaigns, passed away on 30 September 2022 aged 77.
He is credited with ensuring that the agency would remain independent long after his time, staying true to the fiercely independent position of W+K that has inspired independents and creatives across the world. His partner David Kennedy breathed his last in 2021.
Here’s how some Indian adlanders paid tribute to Dan Wieden on their social media handles.
Nike.Coke.Chrysler.Old Spice.Advertising.
Joseph George on LinkedIn.
‘A very kind and generous man who truly understood creative people’
– Arnab Mitra on Facebook:
Dan Wieden and his board of trustees did the needful and guaranteed that Wieden+Kennedy will always remain an independent creative company and never sell to a big network.
Wieden had a unique point of view, which percolated in the kind of people he hired who brought their life stories and individualities into the concoction that made Wieden+Kennedy so original and different. He was also a very kind and generous man who truly understood creative people as he not only backed them to succeed but stood by them when they failed, as well. And hey, Wieden built one of the greatest creative companies in the world out of Portland, not New York or San Francisco or Los Angeles. If that’s not the pursuit and realisation of the American Dream, then I don’t know what is.
Travel well, Dan. You may be gone. But we will never forget you.
Read the full post here.
‘One agency with great work in ‘new media’ without ‘digital’ subsidiary’
– Lakshmipathy Bhatt on LinkedIn:
An advertising legend. Much respect for what he created and the work produced by his agency which built so many brands. And very importantly, path breaking work happened for real brands in tough categories. The one agency which produced great work in ‘new media’ without resorting to a ‘digital’ agency as subsidiary.
‘A man who inspired the world to keep outdoing itself with three simple words’
– Nirmalya Sen on LinkedIn:
How do you say ‘rest in peace’ to a man who inspired the world to keep outdoing itself with three simple words – Just do it?
‘Even in the afterlife, please ‘Just Do It’.
– Yousuf Rangoonwala on LinkedIn:
i had told myself, after seeing a lot of w+k’s ads between 2003 and 2007, that I will work with this agency, or ask for rebirth, because an advertising career without working at w+k seems a waste. I wrote this in my cv too, when I applied for a job at w+k.
advertising has lost a titan today. RIP dan. may your soul be with peace. even in the afterlife, please ‘just do it’. we lost Dave a short while ago. you could have given us a little more time, because knowing you were around, still assured us for the power of the narrative. I promise you, we will continue to practice it. my condolences to Dan’s family and friends, and all w+k employees and alumni.
Read the full post here.
‘Fierce, independent and committed to the craft’
– Shantesh Row on LinkedIn:
Even considering the negativity of the source for the baseline, Nike wasn’t too warmed up about it. Neither were most of the creative teams at Wieden+Kennedy.
Wieden was. He stuck to his conviction. He had it done. The rest is history.
Which is pretty much what he accomplished throughout his long and illustrious advertising career. To remain fierce, independent and committed to the craft.
Read the full post here.
The Fail Harder Wall.
– Nikhil Choudhary on LinkedIn:
Thank you #Danwieden for reminding us of what we forget as creatives. FAIL HARDER.
Read the full post here.
