AKQA co-founder Tom Bedecarré dies, aged 69

Tom Bedecarré, the co-founder and chairman emeritus of AKQA, died on March 29 surrounded by his family.

Dubbed “Silicon Valley’s favourite ad man” by Fortune magazine, Bedecarré was a renowned entrepreneur and advertising executive.

Together with Kirk Citron and Matt Haligman, Bedecarré founded US ad agency Citron Haligman Bedecarré (CHB) in 1990. As chief executive, he helped grow it into the largest independent agency in San Francisco during the 1990s, bringing in $100 million (£77.5 million) in annual billings. 

Friends and former colleagues Citron and Haligman remembered Bedecarré as “the rare account guy who thought ‘out of the box’".

They said: “He was the perfect complement to Citron and Haligman. Tom helped us build a business from a creative boutique to one of the leading ad agencies in the world. We were so lucky to have him as a partner.”

Following a $70 million (£54 million) investment from Accenture, CHB merged with UK-based AKQA, founded by Ajaz Ahmed, and Bedecarré became US chief executive.

Ahmed, who left AKQA after three decades last year, paid tribute to his best friend and business partner’s “joy, optimism, and a hopeful sense of possibility to every moment."

He said: “He was a rare and beautiful soul who made the world feel a little less cruel. With a single smile, Tom could remind you that life is still beautiful. Tom’s spirit runs through everything we are: The work we do, the lives we lead, and the quiet moments when we choose stillness over striving, kindness over pride and empathy over ambition. Tom, thank you for the love and the light. We’ll carry it with us, always.”

When WPP made the surprise $540 million (£419 million) acquisition of AKQA in 2012, Bedecarré took on a new role as president of WPP Ventures, sourcing investment opportunities including Muzy and Refinery29.