Bob Isherwood

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Bob Isherwood is the Australian-born Worldwide Creative Director of Saatchi & Saatchi. The role gives him ultimate responsibility for the output of the company’s 150 offices in 84 countries.

Isherwood is the driving force behind the Saatchi & Saatchi Award for World Changing Ideas. [http://www.saatchi.com/worldwide/innovation_award.asp] This global biennial Award attracts extraordinary inventions and initiatives with the potential to make the world a better, kinder place. The most recent winner was LifeStraw®, [http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw.htma] a personal, portable water purifier for use in the developing world. The $100,000 Award appeals to outstanding individuals to judge the Award. Judges so far have been: Buzz Aldrin, Chris Anderson, Laurie Anderson, James Burke, David Byrne, Paul Davies, Edward de Bono, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, William Gibson, Philip Glass, HRH Prince Hassan of Jordan, Danny Hillis, Tibor Kalman, Kevin Kelly, Kenji Kitatani, Baz Luhrmann, John Maeda, Pattie Maes, Malcolm McLaren, Lachlan Murdoch, Story Musgrave, Kjell A. Nordström, Carolyn Porco, Lou Reed, Sue Savage-Rumbaugh, Philippe Starck, Julie Taymor, Oliviero Toscani, Richard Saul Wurman.

Isherwood presents the legendary Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors’ Showcase [http://www.canneslions.com/saatchinewdirectors/] at the annual Cannes International Advertising Festival [http://www.canneslions.com/] .The Showcase is a major highlight of the Festival and features the hottest new directing talent from around the world, identified by the Saatchi & Saatchi Network.

As an acknowledged advertising industry leader, Isherwood is regularly invited to deliver keynote speeches and to contribute to books and articles.

Background

Isherwood was born in a tough area of Melbourne, Australia. Leaving school at thirteen, Isherwood became an apprentice motor mechanic which he hated. Against all the odds (and the admission rules) Isherwood was given a place at RMIT to study Advertising Art, thanks to the intervention of Victor Greenhalgh – the head of department. Recognising what an enormous difference Victor’s brave decision made to his own life, Isherwood has established a scholarship programme for underprivileged students at RMIT.

Career

Soon after graduating, Isherwood sailed to the UK to pursue his career. He ended up at Collett, Dickenson, Pearce, considered at the time to be the most creative advertising agency in the world. As a creative group head there, Isherwood helped create and contribute to a number of classic campaigns for the likes of Stella Artois, Parker Pens, Hovis and Harpers Bazaar.

In 1982, after 18 years in London, Isherwood returned to Australia to become a founding partner of The Campaign Palace, Sydney.

Isherwood was hired by Saatchi & Saatchi, Sydney in 1986, becoming their creative director in 1988.

Isherwood was appointed Worldwide Creative Director of Saatchi & Saatchi in 1996. Under his leadership the Network has won almost 8,000 significant creative awards.

Awards

Isherwood won Australia’s first Gold Lion award for Cinema at the Cannes International Advertising Festival [http://www.canneslions.com/] . He has also won a very rare British Design and Art Direction [http://www.dandad.org/] gold award for Advertising.

In addition, he has been named Australia’s Leading Creative Director. Has received the Clio Lifetime Achievement Award. [http://www.clioawards.com/] Been inducted into the Clio [http://www.clioawards.com/] Hall of Fame. Is a member of RMIT’s Acclaimed Alumni. Received the first ever Honorary Doctorate in Communications from RMIT in 2007.

Appointments

*President, Film & Press & Poster Juries at Cannes International Advertising Festival [http://www.canneslions.com/]
*Chairman of Executive TV & Radio Jury, Clio awards [http://www.clioawards.com/]
*Influentials’ speaking tour with Bob Geldof, Malcolm McLaren and others
*Participant in ‘2020’ [http://www.australia2020.gov.au/] initiative of Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.

Isherwood presents the Saatchi & Saatchi Hero Show at the annual Clio Awards [http://www.clioawards.com/] . So far, he has presented two of his personal heroes, maverick photographer Oliviero Toscani and Gonzo artist Ralph Steadman.

Bibliography

*‘World Changing Ideas’ – (co-authored with Richard Myers.) [http://www.amazon.co.uk/World-Changing-Ideas-Richard-Myers/dp/0955304601/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221129948&sr=1-1] Palazzo Editions ISBN 10: 09553046 01ISBN 13: 978 – 0955304606
*‘Art Direction (D&AD Mastercraft Series)’ – (essay by Isherwood) [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Direction-Book-Ad-Mastercraft/dp/0823065626/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221129794&sr=8-1] RotovisionISBN – 10: 0823065626ISBN – 13: 978 - 0823065622
*‘Advertising Now. Print.’ (succinct essay by Isherwood) [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Advertising-Print-Midi-Julius-Wiedemann/dp/3822840270/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221129768&sr=1-1] Editor Julius WiedemannTaschen – GmbHISBN – 10: 3822840270ISBN – 13: 978 – 3822840276
*‘Advertising Now.’ TV Commercials: (essay by Isherwood) [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Advertising-Now-TV-Commercials-Midi/dp/3822840297/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221129739&sr=1-1] Taschen – GmbHNot Yet Available
*‘Social Work: Saatchi & Saatchi’s Cause Related Ideas.’ [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Social-Work-Saatchi-Saatchis-Cause-related/dp/0953812804/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221129702&sr=8-1] Te Neues Publishing Co.ISBN – 10: 0953812804ISBN – 13: 9780953812806
*‘The 22 Irrefutable Laws of Advertising (and When to Violate Them)’ [http://www.amazon.co.uk/22-Irrefutable-Laws-Advertising-Violate/dp/0470821868/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221129609&sr=8-1] (by Michael Newman, foreword by Isherwood.)Published by WileyISBN – 10: 047082106XISBN – 13: 978 – 0470821060

External Links

* [http://www.heresanidea.com] www.heresanidea.com
* [http://www.saatchi.com] www.saatchi.com
* [http://www.canneslions.com] www.canneslions.com
* [http://www.clioawards.com] www.clioawards.com
* [http://www.dandad.org] www.dandad.org
* [http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw.htm] LifeStraw®