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WCRS Creative Director. Get to know Billy Faithfull.

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What's the story behind you joining WCRS?

Ross Neil and I got our break at HHCL in the last days of a truly great and innovative agency. A collection of original people who didn't quite fit in elsewhere in the industry. We’ve always been motivated by energy and enthusiasm rather than the hierarchy of fear and WCRS seemed to exude this aura of friendly ambition which really appealed to us 8 years ago. Happy to say the culture still stands today. No politics, no bullshit. Just decent people trying to make work people care about.

 

What does a typical day consist of at WCRS?

It's a constant battle of good versus evil. On one side, like the eye of Saruman and all his oily minions are the constant emails, meeting invites and administrative duties of leading a creative agency. On the other side, like so many short hairy big-hearted Hobbits, are the indescribable joys of working with creative people. Designers, technologists, creative teams. There's nothing I like more (professionally speaking) than sitting in a room with a rag-tag posse of creative people and trying to solve a problem.

 

What would you be doing if you weren't at WCRS?

Procrastinating. Eating Taramasalata. Probably at the same time.

 

What do you love most about working at WCRS?

The very first bit of every project. The anything is possible bit. Before the soul searching, the logic bombs, the procurement conundrums, the budgets and the career ladders get in the way. The 'here's a really dumb idea' bit.

 

What's been the highlight of your career so far?

Deciding to saddle up with exceptionally-bearded and never out-gunned Captain of Enthusiasm, Ross Neil.

 

What campaign do you wish you'd worked on?

Wish I'd written the line 'A man's gotta chew what a man's gotta chew' for Texan Chocolate Bars. That would have kept me going for a year.

 

Which brand would you love to work with?

Any brand that understands the difference between ‘work with’ and ‘work for’.

 

What's the best advice you've ever received, and who was it from?

Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. Because then you'll be a mile away from him, and you'll have his shoes. Steve Henry’s wisdom knows no bounds.
 

What do you want to be remembered for?

Being a friend and a father. And eating my body weight in Taramasalata in a single sitting. I have a dream.
 

What was your worst job and what did you learn from it?

Company Secretary for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. I'm pretty sure I'll get a sitcom out of it though, so maybe it was the best.

 

What's do you see to be the most notable change in the industry in recent years?

Everyone thinks they can get everything for nothing in no time at all. Even when the economy's back on it's feet, we'll still be expected to work our magic for temporal peanuts.

 

What do you think will be the next big thing?

Anyone that tells you they know is a fool and a gambler. But I hear this will.i.am guy is going to be pretty big.
 

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