Ben is one of the very best our industry has produced, period. He has a unique ability to deliver ideas that make brands and marketers famous. Something he consistently applies to the biggest and sometimes toughest brands in the market. I loved our time together, taking George Patterson to multiple Agency of the year honours. We had a lot of fun along the way.

Ben is the rarest of breeds. He is both creatively and commercially brilliant. His ability to apply both left and right brain was the foundation of an historic chapter at VMLY&R. As the APAC leader of our businesses Ben lifted our creativity to place I personally think will never be seen again.

After years of quiet discussions, we eventually persuaded Ben to Join the Clemenger family. Within three years Clemenger Sydney was named Austrlian agency of the year. Something not done before in it’s 30 year history. Ben managed this with quiet confidence, positivity and genuine passion to make work that works.

Others will tell you about Ben’s creative success record, I’ll give an insight into how he achieves it. Ben has a unique ability to lift up those around him. He inspires people to be their best, in a strangely casual way. It’s sometimes unnerving.

He is also an excellent part time interior decorator, never seen an office look so well styled.

I want to thank Ben, who leaves a legacy across Y&R of innovative and outstanding work. Ben has been a vital member of our global creative board and leader of our offices in Australia and New Zealand. I am certain his next chapter will be worthy of his tremendous talents.

I still don’t know what he actually does, never looks like proper work to me. They tell me he’s not bad, but he hasn’t done an ad as good as those XXXX beer ads from the 90’s, Jeez they were funny.