Precedent UK managing director Hardip Bhamra dies
Precedent’s managing director of its UK division Hardip Bhamra, popular throughout the advertising industry for his passion and creativity, passed away suddenly last week, The Drum has learned.
Bhamra had a heart attack on Friday at the agency’s London office and could not be resuscitated.
Passionate about design and by all accounts a talented artist, Bhamra successfully harnessed his eye for detail to help a range of clients, including the British Heart Foundation and the British Medical Association, over the course of 20 years at Precedent.
"Hardip joined Precedent over twenty years ago and in many ways he was Precedent. He was gentle, honest and lacked an ego, of any kind," Paul Hoskins, chairman and founder at Precedent shared.
"His commitment, professionalism and kindness was evident in everything that he did and all his wonderful traits he shared and passed on to both clients and colleagues. I am totally devastated by the loss of a true friend, as we all are, but our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this dreadful and challenging time."
Described as modest but with an insatiable curiosity, he was at his best when sharing his vast knowledge of the intricacies of online design but never wanted to take the limelight. One former colleague posted on Bhamra’s LinkedIn profile about how he actively encouraged his staff to take ownership of projects and saw his management role as a conduit of collaboration rather than a path to fame, sentiments of which are reflected in the celebration of his life by his colleagues on social media.
For consultant Phil Jones, non-executive director at Precedent, Bhamra’s personality and impact on those around him is best summarised by a meeting he had with him shortly after he became managing director.
“As a non-exec I tend to dip in and out of companies and it is not often I get to spend too much time with people who aren’t the owners of each business,” explained Jones. “On occasion all the rules are broken and when Hardip Bhamra was about to be promoted to managing director he asked if he could meet with me to learn more about the additional responsibilities.
“He was so modest and eager to learn and we spent a couple of hours gassing away over cappucinos in a little café. Afterwards, he thanked me for my time. The pleasure had actually been all mine. Hardip was one of those special people who everybody loved and respected and he was brilliant dealing with clients even through the tough times.”
Rather than reflecting on the tragic loss and why it happened to Bharma, those closest to him are focused on what they can learn from his wonderful life. Mark Sherwin, a senior exeuctive at Accenture Interactive and Bharma’s colleague for almost 20 years, said “losing Hardip so suddenly reminds us all how thin that thread is”.
"We need to make the best of each and every moment,” he continued. “And if I can take some of the behaviours and values that Hardip showed me and apply them each and everyday, then this personal boulder will ensure that myself and hopefully many of those other people who knew him, will have learnt from Hardip and be better for it.”
Bhamra is survived by his wife Marianne and daughter Kristina.
If anyone would like to leave a note of condolence, you can do so by signing in and adding your message in the comments section below. These will be passed on to Precedent and the Bhamra family.