Vale Ian Parkes
One of Perth advertising’s most prominent agency leaders of the 1970 and 80s, Ian Parkes, has died. Ian was the CEO and founder of one of Perth’s most successful agencies, Parkes Clemenger.
Born in Perth in 1934, Parkes left home at 16 to work as a jackeroo on a merino stud in South Australia. He spent a year on a remote property near Broken Hill before returning to WA, where he worked on sheep stations from Carnarvon to Meekatharra.
At 21, after a life-threatening illness, he made the difficult decision to leave the bush to pursue his dreams of becoming a writer. He came back to Perth to work as a copywriter at 6IX in Perth and wrote radio talks for the ABC before starting his own advertising agency which later became Parkes Clemenger.
The funeral will be held at 11am Monday, 19th September 2022 at Purslow & Chipper, 239 Great Eastern Hwy, Midland WA 6056. There will be a service at 11am followed by a lunch celebration.
Many of Perth’s most successful ad execs started their career or worked at Parkes Clemenger including:
Brian Bowley
Michelle Blakeley
Mark Johnson
Debra Shorter (Account Director)
Wayne Vinten (Art Director)
Angela Harris (nee Dalton, Media Manager)
Peter Whitlock (Print Production Manager – deceased)
Peter Conroy (Account Director)
Kevin Warne (Joint Creative Director with Ian Parkes)
Lorri Cannellini (Finished Artist)
Janet Walker (Writer)
Harvey Wachtel (Art Director)
Ian Whyte (Art Director)
Simon Martin (Account Director)
John Sackson (Account Director)
Peter Gavshon (founding partner The Brand Agency)
Damian Baskin
John Papachristos
Vanessa Ryan (Junior Art Director now super successful Graphic Designer in Melbourne)
Alec Fenton (Junior Art Director)
Brian Simmonds (Dale Simmond’s father, print production manager)
Julie Skelton (Mark’s PA)
Brian Cook (CFO and ex WAFL player)
Richard Swinhoe (Creative Director)
Tony Thorne (Parkes merged with their consultancy, short lived!!!)
Susie Campbell (TV production manager)
Kim Newman (Creative Director)
Tan Gout Nee (Art Director)
Wayne Vinten remembers his first day at Parkes Clemenger: “I remember my first day working there. I was 23. I sat at my desk and at 9am they called a WIP/production meeting. I’d never been in a Parkes Clemenger production meeting before and had no idea what it was. I walked in the boardroom and there was everyone sitting around the boardroom table. There must of been 30 plus people. There was one empty seat at the head of the table so I sat there. Everyone was looking at me and then Ian Parkes walked into the meeting. He saw me sitting in what I now realised was his chair at the head of the table. Without saying anything he pulled up a chair next to me and said. “I’m Ian. You must be the new art director.” We were good friends from that day.”
5 Comments
The news of the passing of Ian Parkes is just so sad. Ian was such a significant mentor to me during my 7 years at Parkes Clemenger. He, together with Des Scales was instrumental in my securing of a position at Coles WA. Their support eventually led me to a successful 25 year career within the Coles Group, initially in Perth and then at a senior Marketing management level in Melbourne. I am forever indebted to Ian and Des for their support all those years ago. My condolences go to all of the Parkes family. Vale Ian.
Roger Blachut
Ian was an absolute gentleman, a clever adman and a fantastic boss. I loved working with Ian at Parkes Clemenger and years later working together at Vinten Browning.
I learned so much from him. Thanks Ian.
I joined Clemenger in the latter days as Account Director in their Burswood Offices. I have very fond memories of Ian, working with him on the Chamberlain John Deere account. He soon changed my attitude to farm machinery from one of ‘so-be-it’ disinterest to a sense of genuine enthusiasm.
A true gentleman and a great mentor. I still miss the scones on Tuesdays!
My condolences to the Parkes family. RIP Ian.
Barry Scotland
The years rolled back on seeing those names and faces from Parkes Clemenger in the 80s. Ian was a gentleman and his passing brings back vivid memories of my time at the agency. His annual staff Christmas parties at his property in the Swan Valley were legendary – lamb on a spit cooked by Ian himself, pony rides for the kids and dancing to a bush band in the barn. Farewell Ian and sympathies to the family.
It was way back in my (nee)) Lenz days, but he was certainly a very powerful influence on my early career. He set a high standard, and was an exemplary example of how it should be done.. He was indeed a true gentleman who had more impact on the people around him that he would ever acknowledge.. He loved his horses too!!