Former CEO, chairman and deputy chairperson of Grey Advertising in South Africa, Ian Shepherd, passed away on 4 July 2016 after a short illness. In a statement, Grey said Shepherd, who it called an “advertising icon” would be “sorely missed by the many people whose professional and personal lives he touched”.
Recently retired Harry Herber, a former director of The MediaShop, recalled how Shepherd was his “first boss” in his advertising career. Herber said Shepherd was a “giant of an adman, who truly understood the nuances of research, and his insightful marketing knowledge was better than that of most of the clients he serviced”.
“He earned respect not only from them, but all of us who worked with him. Ian’s patience, passion and commitment was evident for all to see. Unassuming and humble, his modesty and humility belied a fantastic servant of the ad industry,” said Herber.
“The industry has certainly lost one of their icons. We need more Ian Shepherd’s, but they are truly a rare breed of excellence.”
