Ben Priest’s career spans 25 years, including time at Ogilvy & Mather, CDP, Lowe Howard-Spink, TBWA and Rainey Kelly. In 2008, he teamed with James Murphy, David Golding and Jon Forsyth to open Adam&Eve, which sold to Omnicom in 2012 and became adam&eveDDB
He has enjoyed creative success with clients including John Lewis, Save the Children and Wrangler. Adam&EveDDB’s campaign for Harvey Nichols, "Sorry I Spent It on Myself," took home four Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity last year, helping it earn the title of Agency of the Year.
More about Ben’s great ad choices
Tango ‘Slap’ (1992)
Trevor Robinson OBE was the art director for this iconic 1992 ad, with the small agency Howell Henry Chaldecott Lury. The brief was simple: make Tango famous. At a time when adverts were slick, well-scripted and had big budgets, Robinson and copywriter Al Young were keen to stand out, and their idea developed quickly. The original plan to have the orange man kick the Tango drinker on the behind was denied by the advertising authority at the time… the Tango slap was born.
The public, if not the industry, received it with great acclaim. As kids started injuring themselves ‘tangoing’ each other, it was banned and rewritten, but the hype it created and the fondness with which people remember the ad makes it one of the most successful of its time.
It has been credited as the original piece of viral marketing and pioneer of what would later become known as guerilla advertising.
Agency: Howell Henry Chaldecott Lury
Creative: Trevor Robinson/ Al Young/ Axle Chaldecott/ Steve Henry
Production Co: Limelight
Director: Matt Forrest
Levi's ‘Creek’ (1994)
This classic BBH commercial from 1994 was shot by Vaughan & Anthea. ‘Creek’ combined beautifully shot black and white photography with an unexpected soundtrack by Scottish rock band Stiltskin.
Ever since Bartle Bogle Hegarty created ‘Launderette’, its first breakthrough spot for the brand, it’s ads have transformed the image of Levis as old-fashioned into a market leader. This ad takes us back to the brands origins in 1850s America and is the firm favourite of John Hegarty and Nigel Bogle.
It won a 1994 Gold Lion and the D&AD awards for Best Direction and Best Commercial.
Agency: BBH
Creatives: John Gorse/ Nick Worthington
Director: Vaughan & Anthea
Lynx ‘Sporty Girl’ (2012)
This 2012 ad is one of five films for the Axe Shower gel range, a series that shows different types of girlfriends and how to keep them happy. Shot by the award-winning Canadian director, Tim Godsall, with creative agency BBH, the ad is a stylish combination of slow motion action combined with a witty voiceover.
The ad coincided with the 2012 Olympics, and played off the revamped interest in sport that was sweeping the nation. Lynx Brand Manager, Kavi Tolani, said: "whilst participation in sports programmes have increased, so to has the desirability of sporty girls amongst guys. …our latest addition to the Lynx shower gel range has been created to give guys the competitive edge in these situations."
The campaign won gold awards at both the Andy's and British Arrows in 2013, and Silver at Cannes.
Creative Agency: BBH
Creatives: David Kolbusz / Simon Pearse / Dan Morris / Emmanuel Saint M'Leux / Charlene Chandrasekaran / Rob Ellis
Production Co: Biscuit Agency
Director: Tim Godsall