Wieden+Kennedy ECD, Tony Davidson, elected D&AD President

Tony Davidson, joint Executive Creative Director of Wieden+Kennedy London, has been elected D&AD President at a meeting of the Board of Trustees in London.

“I want to help strengthen those global connections and build the profile of all its education programmes,” said Davidson. “One of the best things about D&AD is that it brings creative practitioners from so many disciplines together – graphic designers, editors, directors, photographers, copywriters, art directors, gaming, product and environmental designers. I’m really looking forward to meeting global talent from various creative disciplines in my year as President,” he added.

Davidson joined BMP in July 1985 as a junior art director. The following year he teamed up with Kim Papworth with whom he has worked with for the majority of the past 21 years. Whilst at BMP they worked on several brands, including VW, War on Want, Courage, Sony, Crookes Healthcare, Scottish Amicable and Heinz, among others.

After a brief period apart, Davidson and Papworth reunited and moved to Leagas Delaney, where they launched Tanner Krolle and created the Adidas Euro ’96 campaign. In 1997, they moved to BBH to work on Levi’s (Flat Eric), Audi and Lynx. As Creative Directors, they set about building the then flagging ship of Wieden+Kennedy London in September 2000. The work they helped create there on Nike, Aiwa, and Honda UK won plaudits across the globe.

“D&AD’s first international colleges joined the University Network this year and Workout’s bespoke programme has now spread throughout Europe and Asia,” said Michael Hockney, D&AD Chief Executive. “Tony’s enthusiasm and commitment over the next year will even further inspire the creative community around the world,” he further said.

Davidson’s relationship with D&AD goes back to his student days when he traveled to London each week from Manchester to participate in one of the organisation’s advertising workshops. He first appeared in the D&AD Annual in 1987 and has won 16 Yellow and two Black Pencils as Creative Director of Wieden+Kennedy London. He joined the D&AD Board of Trustees in 2004.