Industry Profiles: It’s DDB Sydney’s Chief Creative Toby Talbot!

Leading up to our Women in Media Awards, we profiled some of the amazing female talent in the industry. And now we want to celebrate everyone, so we’ve opened the doors to give you a behind the scenes glimpse into the personalities behind the work.

First up, we have the chief creative officer at DDB Sydney, Toby Talbot!

What’s your backstory? (The non-LinkedIn one)

My first week in advertising involved me spending a disproportionate amount of my day in the back of advertising legend Paul Arden’s Ferrari, parked illegally in Soho as he spent many hours in an edit. Rather than learn from the great man, my vital purpose in the Saatchi London empire seemed to be parking ticket avoidance. (I do recall he used to leave one of the windows open an inch for me so I didn’t asphyxiate. Thoughtful to the end, that man).

If you weren’t doing this job, what would you be doing?

Watching daytime TV.

Who’s your industry hero?

Bill Bernbach or ‘The Jew’ as Don Draper refers to him in the first season of Mad Men.

What would you change about the industry?

Plenty. I work with so many clever people who are capable of doing so much more than they’re asked to do. Advertising agencies should be idea supermarkets. Also, I think we as an industry need to come together and agree to charge for pitching. No exceptions. The way agencies undercut one another’s margins to secure a new client is tragic beyond belief and means we now command about as much respect outside our industry as estate agents. Thank-you M&…pull back Toby.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give your younger self?

You may want to reconsider the whole paisley shirt thing.

What’s one thing not many know about you?

I have a fancy unspellable hyphenated surname (which is why I don’t use it).

What’s your quirkiest attribute?

An Imelda Marcos sized addiction to suede shoes.

If you could be Prime Minister for a week, what would you do?

Incarcerate the present one indefinitely. He’s a complete tool.

What’s your favourite kind of cheese?

Easy. Manchego.

Tea or coffee?

‘I don’t like tea. I like gin’ to coin a famous advertising line.

Advertise with us

Please login with linkedin to comment

Advertising Standards Bureau fit sponsorship marketing shingy Whybin\TBWA Sydney