I never knew Martin at BMP.
He kept a desk there.
So I’d occasionally spot his green Bentley in Bishopsbridge Road.
There’d be the odd a sighting in the building, a bit like Bigfoot or the Yeti, a glimpse of a blurry Martin moving through corridors, but way in the distance.
Perhaps because of this, it didn’t occur to me to pick up the phone and ask him to do a podcast about his amazing career.
But Charlie Crompton pushed me to do so, offering to broker the deal.
(Thanks Charlie.)
The timing is odd – BMP, or BMP/Univas/BDDP/
After 55 years.
It’s difficult to even know where to begin to talk about the impact of Boase Massimi Pollitt.
Obviously there’s the birth of planning, the work of John Webster, all the agencies and people it gave birth too, but there’s so much more.
I’m reluctant to list Martin’s achievements, because he’s so reluctant to take credit for them.
And accept a compliment.
Or criticise any employee who ever traipsed up BMP’s spiral staircase.
And you try getting gossip out of a guy who’s been trained to interrogate Russian spies, it’s really hard.
Despite that, we had a great chat, hope you enjoy it.
Recorded by me in Martin’s house, fixed by Parv in Noble State studios.
1968:
Resignations at Pritchard Wood.
1968:
BMP opens.
They make a record to introduce themselves to prospective clients.
1968:
Move into 2-16 Goodge St, W1.
BMP are on the 1st floor.
3 other new companies happen to be on the floors above.
Cramer Saatchi. (Martin occasionally briefs Charles on BMP work.)
David Puttnam Associates. (Photography agent to David Bailey, Mel Sokolsky, Henry Sandbank, Heinz Edelmann, etc.)
Michael Peters Design. (An enormously influential design company in the seventies and eighties.)
1969:
An offer of ‘exceptional prospects to possible assistants’.
1969:
HELP!
1969:
A check in with The Times.
1969:
An MP becomes Chairman.
More hands needed.
1970:
John Webster creates a mailer to clients, a jigsaw, drawn by John.
1971:
Move to 12 Bishopsbridge Road.
1971:
Gabe Massimi leaves.
John Webster takes over.
1971:
Going the JWT route.
1973:
More creatives required.
1974:
Typographer required.
1974:
Scandal at Lingfield.
1976:
Billing hits £10m (despite what Campaign’s headlines says).
1976:
Deal with Univas.
1983:
Goes Public.
1986:
They buy Davidson Pearce.
1988:
BMP is 20.
1989:
A fight with the French.
1998:
BMP is 30.
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