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No, this is not a post about global warming.
Besides, if it was, wouldn’t I have to title it, “Hello More Summers”?
No, this is a post about saying goodbye because today is Richard Summers – planner extraordinaire – last day at Wieden.
Rich has been with W+K for 6 years … first in London and then with us.
Over that time, Rich has been involved in a huge amount of stuff, however the best way to show how much it’s changed him is to compare photos from his time in London …
… with that of his time in Shanghai …
Yep, he’s gone from clean cut, lover of stylish, laid back shades-of-grey to semi-drunken, cliched french/burglar fashionista.
Alarming.
That aside, Rich is going to be missed hugely by colleagues, clients and me.
Apart from being smart, hugely talented, immensely creative and a fellow lover of documentaries [not to mention being the possessor of the largest bank of definitions for sexual perversion since Heidi Fleiss] he’s done fantastic work on everything he’s touched, from Converse to Umbro to P&G to Beats to our own W+K Open Office.
In addition, Rich sent me my favourite ever SMS.
Yes, EVER.
A bit of a back story.
A few years ago I wanted Rich to go and do an experiment for us about China’s fastest growing cities.
While the end result of that was our lovely BoomTown Stories what isn’t known is that I sent Rich off to do it in mid-winter … and just to add to the hardship, I said he wasn’t allowed to pre-plan much, he had to do it on the fly.
I can’t remember why I said that, but I’m sure there was a reason for it. Ahem.
Anyway, I was in an airport about to fly to Portland when I got an SMS from Rich where he stated he was so cold, he’d had to steal toilet paper from the hotel to insulate himself from the freezing temperatures.
God, that makes me sound like a complete bastard doesn’t it.
Ahem.
Anyway, while I’m very sad Rich is going, the fact he was handpicked by Anomaly to be their head of planning for their new China office gives me some comfort.
Not just because one of my colleagues was recognised by a great company for his skills and talent … not just because he is going to a place that will continually embrace and push his talents … not just because it will be very exciting to see what he does and creates … but because I know he will make Anomaly even better and that will push the creative standards of China which will make the industry better for everyone.
Rich, thank you for everything, you leave a lot of memories and a big hole and we look forward to competing against you in the near future.
___________________________________________________________________________
PS: Don’t worry Rich, even though you won’t be with us anymore, I’ll make sure you still get your annual birthday cake and sing-a-long from us, because I know how much you used to absolutely love it and look forward to it.
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his biggest fucking achievement is getting away from you campbell.
Comment by andy@cynic July 19, 2013 @ 6:18 amI’m pretty sure he would agree with you.
Comment by Rob July 19, 2013 @ 8:03 ambased on almost every characteristic you own campbell, you should be at anomaly. might make the fuckers look like theyre living up to their brand for once.
Comment by andy@cynic July 19, 2013 @ 6:19 ameven if it would put off any client from ever fucking hiring them.
Comment by andy@cynic July 19, 2013 @ 6:20 amThe easiest way to tell he worked for you is by that Shanghai photo. Relying on alcohol to survive and extra shabby dress sense are tell tell signs.
Comment by DH July 19, 2013 @ 6:35 amI wish I didn’t find that comment funny, but I do.
Comment by Rob July 19, 2013 @ 8:03 amYou sent this poor bastard out in winter to do some “project” for you? He needed to steal toilet paper for insulation?
You’ve gone soft in your old age Rob.
Comment by Billy Whizz July 19, 2013 @ 6:45 amAnd he’s a planner so he deserved it.
Comment by Billy Whizz July 19, 2013 @ 6:45 amYour loyal, encouraging and competitive sides all get revealed when you say, “Rich, thank you for everything, you leave a lot of memories and a big hole and we look forward to competing against you in the near future.”
Comment by George July 19, 2013 @ 6:59 amWas Richard ever at Lowe London? He looks familiar. Anyway, good luck at Anomaly Richard. Lovely agency.
Nice farewell post Rob. You are an old smoothie when you want to be.
Comment by Pete July 19, 2013 @ 7:33 amYes he was. This is mental … more people I know, know him from his stint at Lowe than at W+K. This either means he was doing even better work there or was a mischievous little fuck that was always causing trouble.
Comment by Rob July 19, 2013 @ 8:04 amNice work Rob. You can tell how much you rate Richard, but it does sound a bit like a bad version of the karate kid.
Comment by Bazza July 19, 2013 @ 8:11 amBut not as bad as this one:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SmmxvHLsKk]
Comment by Rob July 19, 2013 @ 8:14 amYou’re going to send him a cake every year going forward?!!! Absolutely lovely sentiment. I hope you can execute it as regularly as you plan to though 😀
Comment by Anjali Ramachandran (@anjali28) July 19, 2013 @ 7:33 pmGlad his sartorial transformation in more Marcel Marceau than It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, which with your preference for army surplus and Birkenstocks, must be a distinct possibilty with all your minions
Comment by northern July 19, 2013 @ 8:31 pm