The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

-d -h -min -sec

Creative Business Leadership

Grey legend Per Pedersen dies aged 58: remembering his creative legacy

Author

By Jennifer Faull, Deputy Editor

January 6, 2023 | 4 min read

One of Grey Worldwide’s most awarded creatives has died of cancer at the age of 58. Here, we look back at his most celebrated work.

per PEdersen

Per Pedersen

Per Pedersen was a legend in the Grey network and widely credited with a creative turnaround during his two decades within the group.

He began his career as a planner in his native Denmark. After serving in agencies he co-founded Uncle Grey, which quickly became one of the highest-ranking creative shops in Denmark. In 2009, he was asked to take the lead at Grey Germany as chief creative officer but within five years was called to the Group’s New York headquarters where he was named global executive creative director. He was quickly promoted to deputy worldwide creative and then global creative chairman of Grey Group.

In his tenure, he took home over 500 industry awards and more than 150 Cannes Lions gongs.

But in 2020, he departed the WPP giant to set up on his own. He had a vision of delivering “borderless creative collaboration” through a global group of independent creative agencies. In just a few short years, By The Network has grown to a collective of 750 creatives across 34 agencies worldwide.

Pedersen continued running By The Network until his death. He passed away peacefully in Copenhagen on January 4 surrounded by family, including wife Nanna and his four children.

Apple’s VP of marketing comms, Tor Myhren, worked alongside Pedersen when he was president and worldwide chief creative officer at Grey. He recalled his “creative generosity”.

“He was a mentor to so many, lending his creativity to anyone, any time. It’s what he loved to do. He was also a friend who will be deeply missed by the global creative community he brought together along the way,” said Myhren.

Nils Leonard, co-founder of Uncommon and former chief creative officer at Grey Europe, added: ”Per wanted creativity to win. Behind any individual piece of work, job title or jury role was a real belief in the best of our industry, an unshakable passion. He will be remembered for far more than his vocation but for his loyalty to the creative cause – he cared greatly, and as a result, so did we all.”

Those who worked alongside him at By The Network say he’ll be thought of for his “warmth, his way of listening and elevating ideas, and his brilliance when it came to talking about the future of our industry”.

Here is some of his most celebrated work.

P&G Febreze: Smell Experiment

States United to Prevent Fun Violence: Unload Your 401K (Cannes winner 2014)

Swedish Tourism Board: The Swedish Number (Cannes winner, 2017)

Tigo-Une: PayPhone Bank (Cannes winner, 2017)

A statement from the family said it was Pedersen’s wish that all who’d like to attend his funeral are more than welcome.

Date & Time: January 14, 13:00

Location: Copenhagen Cathedral (Vor Frue Kirke), Nørregade 8, 1165 København, followed by a reception. Contact jack.smail@bythenetwork.com for further details.

Creative Business Leadership

More from Creative

View all

Trending

Industry insights

View all
Add your own content +