Projected back in time Right order? Right way up? Graham Hinton is still haunted by memories of 35mm carousels Surveys edition

• Published in: The Financial times (London ed.)
• Main Author: Hinton, Graham
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: London (UK) The Financial Times Limited 23.01.2001
• Subjects: Company Management; Company News; United Kingdom > UK; European Union; Europe; Western Europe
• ISSN: 0307-1766

Never go back" is a maxim I have adhered to during my career, so I am rather unnerved to find myself back in 36 Howland Street, until recently the home of McCann-Erickson. When I was at the agency during the 1970s, it was the largest in the UK, and being back ii the building does bring to mind what pitching was like before the advent of Powerpoint, procurement directors and price differentials. My earliest recollection is of sitting through a presentation rehearsal with the then famous trio that ran the place, Nigel Grandfield, Barry Day and Ann Burdus. We were halfway through when Barry's secretary interrupted with news that another new business prospect was in reception to see him. "How much is it worth?" Barry asked. The answer sounded to me like a significant sum, but Barry was clearly unimpressed. "Tell him to leave it in reception," he replied, barely looking up from his notes.