Rob Landsberry, an instrumental figure who shaped technology and data in advertising, has passed away.
Lansberry led the industry advertising booking system BCC (now Mediaocean) for nearly two decades during much of the 90s and 2000s, and was an integral part in evolving the pipes of the media buying sector, particularly TV.
More recently he provided consultation services to the industry with Mike Thompson at Day8 Technology, and previously via Two Head Solutions, a business he co-founded.
Industry leaders paid homage to Landsberry’s impact and warm nature.
Joy principal and CEO Peter Horgan described Landsberry as, “a lovely guy”.
“He was very warm natured and took a lot of heat from the industry during his time at BCC with good grace and professionalism,” he told B&T
“Industry systems are not an easy endeavour, but with good humour and great intent, Rob strived for the best for all of us. A wonderful colleague and human.”
Media Federation of Australia chief executive Sophie Madden said that Lansberry’s impact and commitment to improving the systems that underpin our media agencies “cannot be overstated”.
“He combined deep technical expertise with an instinctive understanding of the people who use the tools he built, always focused on progress and long-term impact,” she said.
“He will be greatly missed by the many colleagues and friends whose careers he influenced. My heartfelt condolences to Leslie and the family.”
Here is a selection of tributes to Rob Landsberry:
Mike Thompson, Owner, Day8 Technology
“Rob was a good man, and I feel fortunate to have spent time with him. He had a dynamic energy and a playful spirit that made him a genuine pleasure to be around. I know he channelled that energy meaningfully in his personal life, making a difference and improving the lives of many. Professionally, he was genuinely passionate about the Australian media industry and motivated to improve the software tools and processes available to everyone involved.”
Jenny Rowsell, Business Systems Director, Publicis Media
“So sad to hear of Rob’s passing. When I first met him, I thought he was one of the toughest people at BCC. Over the years I realised he was a lovely man with a wicked sense of humour. His Facebook posts during his illness were witty, self-deprecating and funny. He always looked on the bright side and fought the good fight. An industry icon who will be greatly missed. My deepest condolences to Leslie and the family.”
Victor Corones, Head of Trading, Optimisaton & Business Systems, Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia
“Rob made a truly lasting impact on how media agencies manage bookings – particularly for TV. I had the privilege of working with Rob early on, from his BCC days, right through to when he set up Two Heads. From the beginning, you knew you were in capable hands. He brought warmth, humour, and plenty of laughter, but beneath that was a keen and sharp intellect.
“Rob understood the media and advertising technology space from every angle. From software design and business analysis to system development, he focused on practical solutions that, in their time, made a real difference. His work helped agencies manage bookings more smoothly, improved data accuracy, and gave teams greater confidence in their processes.”
