Dr Paul Priday – creative director, thinker, diversity advocate – dies aged 71
Dr Paul Priday, co-founder of Begg Dow Priday and then national creative director of J. Walter Thompson who later embedded himself in agencies to explore gender roles in adland, has died aged 71.
Paul Priday: “a genuine advertising gentleman”.
Dr Priday charted an awarded creative career through a number of agencies including Massius Wynne Williams, Begg Dow Priday with Austin Begg and Rob Dow and then McSpedden Carey with Bani McSpedden and Peter Carey. He was national creative director of JWT after BDP was bought by JWT.
He also contributed to the industry as chair of AWARD and continued to mentor younger creatives throughout his career.
After stepping away from advertising, Priday embarked on a PHD at Sydney University and embedded himself in two of Australia’s largest advertising agencies for his thesis to understand how women were treated in the creative side of the industry.
Inspired to discover if the role of women portrayed in the hit show Mad Men continued to exist, Dr Priday observed McCann and M&C Saatchi as well as overseas agencies, coming to the conclusion that many of the barriers for women in the creative industry continued, even as the industry strove to make diversity a priority.
His controversial findings added to the debate on why few women in the Australian industry rise to creative leadership roles and the story became one of the most discussed on Mumbrella so far this year.
Dr Priday’s creative work spanned a range of accounts including driving SPC Baked Beans and Spaghetti to second place behind Heinz with the memorable jingle “SPC baked beans and spaghetti for hungry little human beans” and driving the Bob Jane T Marts business to national prominence.
The agency also put Monbulk Jams on the Australian map with a simple and eloquent campaign created with a budget of just $3400 and the tagline “The fruit you see is the fruit you’ll taste”.
Austin Begg, Dr Priday’s friend and partner at BDP, said his nature was almost “ambassadorial”.
“He had a lot of qualities and he was a gentleman in a business with very few of them,” Begg said.
“His main strength was was his ability to simplify and that resulted in Begg Dow Priday winning so many awards.”
Paul Priday (left) with fellow BDP founders Austin Begg and Rob Dow.
Friends described his demeanour in an industry dominated by ego and flamboyance as that of ” a genuine advertising gentleman”.
Tom Dery, worldwide CEO of M&C Saatchi, knew Dr Priday from his formative days in the industry and described him as one of the pioneers of the early Australian independent agencies.
“He was a real advocate for the industry,” Dery told Mumbrella.
“From the mid 70’s he broke out into the independent agency world and led from the forefront with fresh new work.”
John Bevins, a member of the Advertising Hall of Fame, said Dr Priday had played a formative role in helping nurture talent in the industry.
“We each have our band of inspirers, people we admire and try to emulate as we go through our careers and lives,” Bevins said.
“Prominent among mine was Paul Priday—from the very early days.
“Begg Dow Priday, with its young creative director pumped out into the Australian ad scene a sense of vibrant independence that I must have sucked in deeply. As I came to learn that Paul wasn’t what admen are supposed to be, loud and brash and shallow, but in his own very special way exactly the opposite he emerged for me as a proper role model. Albeit one I was to meet with far too infrequently.”
Ray Black, who established AWARD school more than 30 years ago to nurture advertising talent, said Dr Priday was an adman focused on getting results for clients.
“It’s not easy to sum someone up with one or two words, but I would say ethical with integrity,” Black said.
Dr Priday is survived by his wife Margot and daughter Polly who have asked that in lieu for flowers donations in the memory of Dr Paul Priday can be made to the Unicorn Foundation to fight cancer.
Very sad to hear this news. I had the pleasure of working with Paul at both a business and university context – and a gentle intelligent soul he was. Hoping his family are ok.
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I met Paul fairly recently when he was studying for his doctorate and lecturing on advertising at Sydney Uni. What a lovely man – so smart, so humble, a very gentle, intellectually curious person. So sad for his family.
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My wife Maggie Wilkins ran a small Marketing Research company (Wilkins Research) herself. She had met Paul briefly, but there was no professional association. Maggie is currently being treated for cancer of the ovary at the St. Leonards Clinic where she did run into Paul occasionaly. I myself am a retired Gynaecologist and should be very interested the type of the “rare” cancer from which claimed Paul’s Life.
I do hope that my enquiry does not cause offence.
My sincere condolences to Paul’s family.
Herbie Sternberg
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What a remarkably talented man who was a great person to bounce ideas off and simplify issues. I first worked with Paul at Begg Dow Priday in the early 80’s and kept up a friendship ever since. He was always so interested in the direction other people’s careers were taking them. He proved you don’t have to shout to get heard and build respect.
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I worked with Paul a lot and in later years, when both of us were out of the industry, relished his friendship. Smart but not smart-arsed, kind, a gentleman in every way, he’ll be missed by countless people. On the plus side, heaven just became a nicer place.
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Paul will be dearly missed. Thank you Mumbrella for this tribute to Paul’s contributions to the Australian advertising and marketing industry. Great to see his work recognised in this forum.
Love to Polly and Margot.
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The advertising industry, and all those lucky enough to have known this wonderful man, have lost one of the truly good ones. Paul’s championing of diversity wasn’t a recent interest; Sarah Barclay, Mara Marich and I, amongst others, were three feisty, green AWARD School graduates whose long creative careers were encouraged, nurtured and launched by Paul in an era where blokeiness reigned supreme. He was a keenly intelligent, dry-witted, warm and generous man of great integrity; I am so gutted that he is gone, but forever grateful and proud that he helped polish this ‘Rough’ (as he used to call me) and gave me the chance to pursue a career I loved. Peace and love to Paul, and my deepest condolences to Margot, Polly and family.
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I was new to Melbourne when Paul took me to the first session of the Centenary Test at the MCG. We stayed for the entire match: and stayed friends. He was truly gracious, and will remain so in my memory.
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Beautiful words, Caz. We were so very lucky he took us all under his wing.
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I met Paul when he came down to McCann Delhi for his research’Obsession with Brilliance: Masculinities and Creativity In Transnational Advertising Agencies’. I had the pleasure to assist him in his research in India; never realised when this academic interaction developed into a deep friendship . I fondly remember his insightful comments and sharp observations about gender discrimination as we would visit the historical Jama Masjeed of Delhi or eat at famous local kebab eateries . Paul’s creative mind marvelled at the intricate Mughal architecture. We had planned that post his theses he would again make a trip to India and we would visit some of these historical wonders like Agra Fort and Taj Mahal.
We used to exchange mails and he had advised me about Australian Universities when I told him about my daughter’s desire to pursue masters in Public health. His last mail was about a month a half back. I never ever thought that I would be writing this comment. In my mind he will always remain as a wonderful friend beyond the seas!
Respect & condolences to Mrs Priday & their daughter
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This is very sad news, I had the opportunity of being a visiting lecturer with Paul at the Estonian Business School in Tallinn. During his time at EBS he generously donated his skills and time to educate the next generation of industry leaders in Estonia. The students loved his classes and his unique insights into the industry. I have fond memories of often sharing a drink and a meal with him in the old town at “Kohvik must puudel” after we concluded our classes and chatting about our research interests and our experiences being Aussies in Tallinn. He was a true gentleman and a scholar and will be sadly missed.
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Vale, Paul.
A titan of manners and genuine creativity in an oft-seemingly gross world.
May your sentience and kindness accompany you always, wherever you may roam. And may my thanks for your beautiful gentility keep you endlessly warm. You managed to teach me what men could be like.
My love is with your beloved Margot and Polly.
Did I mention your deadly wit? Yes, you’re allowed to continue to make English fun of my Dutch name. And my Dutch, what did you call it?, chest, yes. You dagg.
Speaking of whom, I wish you unmitigated joy, fluting about on your broomstick with John Clarke and Mark Colvin.
Love you all the way into the light.
Thank you, Paul.
Thank you, too, Margot and Polly. I hold you all in my little heart, which grows anew thinking of you.
L – J.
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