Beattie announces two-year plan for Birmingham BMB office launch
Beattie McGuinness Bungay co-founder Trevor Beattie has announced his intention to launch a Birmingham branch of the agency within the next two years.
The former TBWA\\London creative director who launched BMB in May 2005 with Andrew McGuinness and Bil Bungay, made the revelation during a talk at a Publicity Association of Central England (PACE) networking event, held in Birmingham. During the speech, he also claimed that Birmingham’s poor profile was down to the city’s residents not shouting loudly enough about its achievements and that he would welcome the opportunity to get involved in improving the city’s reputation.
He said: “Brummies are great people and Birmingham is a great place. The city is better than its reputation because Brummies are not arrogant enough. They have a lot of pride, but unlike people from Manchester they are not arrogant and don’t shout about it. That makes Brummies friendly, but if they could just be arrogant and boast for a bit it would do the city’s reputation a lot of good.”
McCann Erickson Birmingham CEO, and president of PACE, Dean Lovett, said Beattie’s comments showed that he still has Birmingham in his blood, and isn’t surprised he’s thinking of making a return to the Midlands.
“When I’ve met up with him in the past, he’s made no secret of his intention to start-up in Birmingham. He has no intention of leaving where he is, but he’s certainly keen on a satellite office,” Lovett said.
Beattie entered the public psyche in 1994 with the provocative, “Hello, boys!” Wonderbra campaign. His most notorious work was yet to come though, finding the concept for French Connection’s infamous ‘FCUK’ slogan campaign, after noticing the abbreviation on fax letterheads.
Lovett says a return, given Beattie’s profile, would give the Midlands scene a boost. “He’s the most renowned creative director in England, his work is internationally recognised, and so it would be great for Birmingham.”
Earlier this year Beattie bought an apartment in Birmingham city centre.