Creative Q&A: Ogilvy & Mather Hong Kong's Simon Handford

How did you get into advertising?

I remember watching a documentary when I was 13 or so, about this scruffy bunch wearing lumberjack shirts and jeans. They were getting all excited about these badly drawn scribbles on scraps of paper.  I was smitten.

What was your first ever ad?

NFU Mutual. A rural insurance company. Insurance for farmers. They needed a billboard for an annual country expo called the Royal Show. My headline: “Never insure a horse with blinkers on.”

What was your first ever job?

My first day on the job, I spent stuck in a field being a horse’s arse – literally.
My partner Tom and I got our first break at the headquarters of a UK agency called Cogent Elliot. It was the most amazing converted 14th century farm complex in the middle of the country. One of the senior teams had to shoot an ad with a pantomime horse as the key visual, and they very kindly asked us if we’d like to come along.

What was your worst job ever?

I’ve done everything from farming, building and pot-washing to games testing. Far and away, the shittiest job was packing shelves at Sainsbury’s supermarket. Utter misery.

I've never really had a bad job in advertising. Although I did quit one agency after just 3 weeks. For some reason, it just didn’t feel right. Although in hindsight, maybe I should have stuck around. Somehow I ended up getting a One Show gold pencil out of it.

What does it take to impress you?

I admire enthusiasm and energy. The love people put into their work tends to shine through.

Where do you go to be inspired?

There's no doubt in my mind that the more you experience in life, the richer your ideas. If you can't get out much, the next best things are books, movies and gaming.

If you can spend one day with a celebrity or historical figure, who would it be? Why?

I guess it would be cool to hang out with a person who could just make me laugh all day long.  Zach Galifianakis, Larry David or Louis CK.
       
What is your guilty pleasure?

Watching people argue in public. Dark comic theatre for free. I love it.

If you have to come back as an animal, what would you be? Why?

A mosquito. One of the few species who benefit from the proliferation of human beings. What a life. Buzzing around and annoying the hell out of people. Long days at the beach, sucking on the blood of tanned hotties.

What is the last book you read?

The Dark Fields by Alan Glynn - the book of the film Limitless. Equally brilliant.

Which ad do you wish you had made?

I’ve never really wished I’d made somebody else’s ad.

Worst haircut you’ve ever had?

I once tried to save money by getting Sandy (my co-ECD) to give me a trim with the clippers. She forgot to put the length guard on and shaved a great, big number 1 trench over my head. Inevitably, I had to have a Sinead O'Connor.

Describe your typical day.

Get up. Dogs. Write a presentation I should’ve done the night before. Cigarette. Office. Rant and rave. Make references to something I've once seen on BBC Knowledge. Cigarette. Draw all over the walls. Go to a presentation. Cigarette. Tend to the dogs. Gym (new edition). Watch BBC knowledge. Cigarette. Fall asleep on couch.

Can you suggest a question for our next Q&A candidate?

Going anywhere nice on your holidays?

1 + 1 = ? It's in the same vein as The Aristocrat joke or the age old chicken crossing dilemma. There's always a lateral answer. (Question provided by Bates 141 Singapore’s Ken Tan)

1 + 1 = Some