Ikon boss Hardwick in gunpoint carjacking
Gary Hardwick – boss of media agency Ikon – was held at gunpoint by carjackers who stole his top-of-the-range BMW on Friday night.
Hardwick, co-founder of the ten-year-old agency, had the gun pointed at his chest and head during the robbery, reports today’s Sunday Telegraph. He told the paper:
“I realised they were after one thing and one thing alone and that was obviously the car.”
The incident happened as he got back from work at his home in Bellevue Hill at about 7.40pm, reported the paper, which valued his powerful BMW M5 at $240,000. Hardwick told the Tele he now intends to replace the car with something that was less of a target as it is the second time it has been stolen.
Along with co-founder Simon White, Hardwick has built Ikon into one of Australia’s most successful media agencies. It has been B&T magazine’s media agency of the year for the last two years. Among its largest pieces of business are founding client Commonwealth Bank which is successfully retained last year, and Vodafone, which currently has a pitch on hold.
Ikon was sold to STW in November 2006.
NSW Police say they want to speak to a man “described as being of white/European appearance, approximately 175cms tall and of thin build. He was wearing a blue hooded top, blue jeans, sneakers and a black and white bandana”.
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It’s never been a better time to buy a Holden.
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nah…..Prius to get some Carbon-Karma sorted!
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I’m waiting for the Indian Tata!
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What is it with agency bosses and their cars? I’m glad he’s okay, but please… aren’t there more original things to do when you flog your agency than buy some ridiculous chariot. Or boat.
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Why is this news ? I am sorry that someone “in the industry” had a gun to their head and all but did someone call the papers to turn it into a story?
I know people this has happened to and it hasn’t made industry news a day or so later….
Just saying.
Glad he’s OK.
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Hi Pink Lady,
I suspect that the S Tele picked it up from the NSW Police press release (linked to at the end of the story).
I’m afriad I don’t know why your friends didn’t get into the papers. Perhaps they weren’t driving a car worth a reported quarter of a million bucks?
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
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Still not sure why this is news. Still amazed The Tele “picked it up” and then “sent a photographer”.
Shock does funny things to people I guess.
I am happy Mr Hardwick and family is OK. That is what matters. Cars and the price of them are not important. People have been car-jacked for less fancy wheels.
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Maybe his insurance company leaked the story.
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The claim by BMW’s media agency in today’s Australian that media types drive BMWs certainly seems to be accurate.
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I’m relieved BMW don’t appear on the IKON client list…. It shows how cynical I am that I suspected this could be the “girl with the jacket” all over again.
Glad Mr Harwick & his family are ok.
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Had this been a Subaru WRX jacked from a tradesman from Bankstown, no-one would be non-the-wiser.
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Gary, you’d better stick to riding your bicycle over L’Alpe d’Huez – much safer. Hope you’re alright mate.
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It doesn’t really matter who drove the car or what make the car was or who leaked the story. The overall message is “be aware/take care”.
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Ironically, I am as surprised as Pink Lady that I had Seven News and the Sunday Telegraph camped outside my home on Saturday morning. The reason I agreed to have the story covered was to help with the police investigations and to alert other people that it could happen in their suburbs too. Hopefully it will lead to an arrest.
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Pink Lady, you’re bonkers.
1. When someone in Australia [versus NYC where it might be a ‘run of the mill’ story] gets a gun pointed to their head, and at their wife’s head. It generally makes the news [via Police or pigeon].
2. Grab some compassion!
3. That Gary is an agency boss is context for Mumbrella.
4. Change your name “Black Lady”.
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Gary
Far be it for me to suggest that it may be easier to steal from you than to get you to buy something… but think about recently knocked back media proposal aroud say 250 large. May find it in a media reps garage
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Gary
Must have been terrible, and sorry especially to hear your family were involved too.
But a quarter of a million bucks for a BMW, I cant help thinking you have been robbed twice on that one!
cheers
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No one deserves this, least of all Gary. Hope you and the family are OK.
Cheers Tony Richardson
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Hi Dicken Doe ( Nice name),
Depends on whether I paid the reported price for it, doesn’t it 🙂
Cheers
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Gary,
touche! am actually laughing in the office.
And very glad you and your family are safe.
Dicken
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Advertisers – the fact that someone might look in your client list when you have such a terrible thing happen to you should make you look at your tactics…. Witchery is a good example of how you can shoot yourselves in the feet – and spend so much doing it!!!!
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Pink Lady:
You really don’t understand why an incident like this is news? And you presumably work in the media industry?
1. Prominent businessman
2. Hugely expensive vehicle
3. Potentially lethal gunplay
4. Carjacking (not exactly commonplace here)
What more do you want?
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I’m assuming Pink Lady MUST be in the media. She/he certainly seemed to get a rise out of you guys. Isn’t that the goal? Maybe it’s really Miranda Devine….
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