30 from 30. The people who helped shape the industry and Campaign Brief: Denis Thompson
For Campaign Brief WA’s 30th anniversary, over the thirty days of June we’re looking back on 30 people who helped shape the industry and us.
Denis Thompson was appointed managing director of The Sunday Times in 1986. He had had a twenty year career with News Limited, and led The Sunday Times (the first paper Rupert Murdoch ever bought after ‘inheriting’ the Adelaide Advertiser) for three years. In 1989 he headed east to joint the Herald & Weekly Times Group as MD of Sales but returned to Perth in mid-1992 to take up the position of Managing Director of The West Australian.
The West had only recently been floated, so it was a buoyant time for the paper as a business but also placed plenty of demands upon Thompson as MD. Despite that, he engaged with the industry at every opportunity. He went to the PADC Awards. He went to the Oasis Ball. He went to agency functions. And anyone could walk up and speak to him.
At an ‘open’ AFA coffee morning in 2000, Thompson had a bit of a crack at media buyers. That fired up AIS Elliott Matthews principal Alan Matthews, who sent us a letter having a crack right back. Of course we loved the skirmish but more importantly it meant an issue in the industry was being vigorously discussed by senior figures.
We also remember the PADC hosting a presentation of the Cannes Lions reel at Ace Cinemas Subiaco (in the days before the internet gave instant access to Cannes). Thompson was one of the 50 or so people who turned up, and then joined a bunch of us for a drink afterwards at The Subi Hotel. Think about that – the CEO of the state’s most important media organisation and one of its biggest businesses, came along to a PADC reel night.
His presence at all these things was almost as valuable as the cheques he signed for them (and let’s face – they were mighty valuable!). To have someone of Thompson’s standing attending and participating made the industry feel important.
Thompson gave Campaign Brief some great interviews over his tenure as MD, plus he was one of the judges for our inaugural Media Strategy award.
And all this while making The West Australian one of the most successful businesses in Australia, a fact acknowledged by The Bulletin magazine in 2001, when it ranked Thomspon as the third best performing CEO in the country in terms of shareholder return. It was a nice note on which to retire.
4 Comments
Well done CB for highlighting Denis in your series.
What a lot of people didn’t know was Denis, along with his life on the Terrace, was an amazing performer at The Tivoli Club of WA.
The Tivoli Club of WA holds a unique place in the Western Australian entertainment scene. It is still the only non-professional theatre in Australia.
Denis was a dancer, a terrible female impersonator, acrobat and a fantastic singer.
He never missed a show.
An amazing businessman and vaudevillian.
Congratulations old mate.
Denis once came in to the office wearing his outfit from one of his Tivoli shows. He was dressed as a showgirl. Hilarious with his moustache and red high heels. He danced around the office all day. Great memories Campaign Brief.
I was fortunate enough to work with Thommo at News Limited Sydney on the Sydney Daily Mirror and Sunday Telegraph. Bloody tough but super fair – backed you in – and still the best Adman I have been alongside.
I worked with DT at News Ltd in Sydney on The Daily Mirror late 1970’s and early 1980’s. He was advertising Director of News Ltd at the time. He had a tough job to do and I knew and respected that. I looked up at Denis as a role model. He did not suffer fools and he treated you well if you did the right thing. I am glad he is keeping busy in retirement and having fun. That’s how it was at work. Well played Denis you legend.