The Death of a Giant
Bob Hoffman pays tribute to the late Dan Wieden
On September 30, 2022, Dan Wieden, co-founder of Wieden+Kennedy died. Here, writer Bob Hoffman pays tributes to one of the creative industry's true greats.
Our industry used to be dominated by big personalities. These days it's dominated by big corporations.
There ain't too many giants left in adland. This week we lost one. Dan Wieden died at 77.
Along with his partner David Kennedy, Wieden co-created the greatest ad agency of this era, Wieden+Kennedy. David Kennedy died about this time last year.
Best known for their iconic "Just Do It" campaign for Nike, Wieden+Kennedy did the near-impossible. They created great advertising for decades.
Wieden won every award there is, and is in every advertising Hall of Fame they can invent. But the one thing I admire most about him has nothing to do with ads. It has to do with integrity.
At any time, Wieden could have sold his agency to one of the holding company vampires for hundreds of millions. He didn't. Instead he put it into a trust that insures it will remain independent forever.
Dan Wieden was a great ad person and a good man. RIP.
