BBDO Legend Phil Dusenberry Shares Insight to Ad Industry

Co-Host Brad Forsythe interviews Phil Dusenberry, former chairman of BBDO North America. Phil Dusenberry is often cited as the person responsible for turning BBDO into the creative powerhouse it is today. As an influential creative, Dusenberry elevated advertising into a form of entertainment with a commitment to emotion, humanity and unwavering energy and verve. His long list of awards includes ADDYs, Clios, One Show Pencils, Gold Lions at Cannes and more. Beginning as a copywriter at BBDO in 1962, Phil rose up the ranks to chief creative officer, then to chairman and CEO of BBDO New York and finally chairman of BBDO North America. After more than 30 years with BBDO, Phil Dusenberry retired as chairman of BBDO North America in 2002. In 2005, Phil released his book entitled, “Then We Set His Hair on Fire,” which offers his insights in business and how we get them, how we recognize them, and how we keep them coming. To complement The Advertising Show podcast, the following is a complete transcript of the conversation.