Guest post: Vale Maurice Dowd
In this guest posting, the staff of Clemenger BBDO Melbourne pay tribute to former colleague Maurice Dowd
It is with deep sadness we announce Maurice Dowd lost his battle with cancer on the weekend.
A much loved and respected member of the Clemenger BBDO family, Maurie’s career was a colourful and successful one.
He first cut his teeth as a fashion art director before taking on a Senior Art Director role at Masius in the late 70s. He played a pivotal creative role on the rapidly growing Just Jeans account at Masius, and was a ‘must have’ when the business moved across the road to Clemenger.
There, Maurice starred on (and won many awards on) Just Jeans, Country Road, Sportscraft, Uncle Toby’s, Dulux and Mercedes-Benz.
In the early 90s Maurice won a coveted Cannes Gold Lion for his Mercedes safety spot “The Neis family”. It went on to win Gold at the MADC and the Australian Television Awards.
He also became an established film director at Clemenger BBDO, directing many of the agency’s best-known spots.
After leaving Clemenger BBDO, Maurice continued his successful career as a commercials director and art director, working freelance for Grey, Clemenger, The Victorian Government among many others.
Maurice was loved by all those who worked with him.
Not only was he a major talent, he was open, non-political and selfless in his dealings with workmates, production people and clients, and an absolute pleasure to be with at all times.
Maurie is survived by his wife and soul-mate Marnie, their two young sons Dexter and Archie and his daughter Zoe.
The industry has lost a true gentleman.
We will miss him greatly.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
Linkedin
That’s still an amazing ad.
User ID not verified.
I really think it was the one commercial that put Clemenger Melbourne on the road to being a creative force in the 90s – a spot I have never tired of viewing, even today. It was an in-house production (Port Productions), beautifully written by David Blackley, art directed by Maurice Dowd and directed by Paul Clydesdale. The Gold Lion helped Australia gain 3rd spot in the world behind the US and UK at Cannes in 1991 – a hell of a great year for Australian advertising.
User ID not verified.
Maurie, you were the King of Kings in our creative land and your outstanding work is admired by many.
But above all, you were a great family man and in the end that’s what counts the most.
You will be will be greatly missed.
User ID not verified.