John Watson receives IDM Lifetime Achievement Award
Released 13 July 2006: John Watson Hon F IDM, founding partner of agency Watson Phillips Norman, has been awarded the IDM’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement award in recognition of his exceptional service to the direct, data and digital marketing profession.
Presenting the award, IDM Managing Director, Professor Derek Holder acknowledged not only Watson’s exceptional and sustained career achievements, but, importantly, his unfaltering commitment to education and training:
"Through his agency career John has educated hundreds of clients, hundreds of staff and thousands of potential young direct marketers. More than educated. He’s inspired them."
Holder also paid tribute to Watson’s contribution to the establishment of the IDM itself, adding: "Without him, there would not have been an Institute of Direct Marketing".
John Watson began his career at the age of 16 as a messenger boy. He started his first agency with Drayton Bird and Glenmore Trenear-Harvey in the 1970s, subsequently selling it to Ogilvy and Mather. In 1981 he helped start WWAV and within 5 years it was the largest DM agency in the UK, eventually growing to become the largest DM services group in Europe with a turnover of £110million and staff of 750. After a two-year spell away from the industry he returned to start Watson Phillips Norman in 2002. Watson was the first Chairman of the IDM, is an Honorary Life Fellow and has been an IDM Trustee for 16 years.
The IDM Lifetime Achievement award was presented for the first time on 6 July at the Institute’s annual Patrons Dinner, which each year celebrates the success of the graduates participating in the IDM Education Programme.
Notes to Editors
For more information contact Juliet Hilditch at juliethilditch@theidm.com.
