Forty Years of 'Unsung Heroes': #1

There's lots of people on here (LinkedIn) with big reputations and big followings, but it's not just the big names that make working in my industry (advertising+) extraordinary, delightful, fun and honest.

As I get ready to hang up my agency boots. I thought I might share a few of my unsung heroes with you. And say thanks.

There are so many to choose from and this will not, cannot, possibly be comprehensive.

But I'm gonna start with a current colleague, just because it feels appropriate.

Kelly Jones and I have known each other for about 20 years. She's an artworker at Dentsu Creative - formerly Whitespace - and she's been an unsung hero of mine throughout. For much of that time she was number two to another unsung hero of mine, although Ricky Bentley, for it is he, has a bit more profile. Kelly doesn't even have a LinkedIn account.

Kelly and I both went to Holyrood High School RC (so did Mike Donoghue) and we revel in that at office parties. Our inverted snobbery gets a good airing twice a year or so, as we drop our T's and practice our vernacular.

"Pardon our French" we say, but we all know that fuck and twat are not French.

Kelly would do ANYTHING for you, at any time. She only works part time, because she is devoted to her adorable daughter, Summer, but if you've got a pitch on and a deadline is looming, you know, just KNOW, that Kelly will drop everything to help you out, and never, ever complain about it.

She loves her music and has, IMHO, significantly above average taste (in other words she likes the same stuff as me).

Anyone who has worked with me will agree that there are not enough Kelly Jones' in our industry and when we find them we adore them.

Thank you Kelly for the last 20 years. I love you, yah wee radge!