John Tylee

Born
18 November 1945, London

Career history
1963-1965 Junior reporter, Enfield Gazette.
1965-1973 Evening Echo, Hemel Hempstead (general reporter, education correspondent, assistant news editor)
1973-1983 Thomson Regional Newspapers, chief assistant to the London Desk.
1983-1985: Senior information officer, Post Office
1985 – present Campaign

Favourite ad
Health Education Council poster “This is what happens when a fly lands on your food” by Cramer Saatchi. The most succinct and effective piece of copywriting I’ve ever seen.

Favourite book
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy by John Le Carre.
No other writer combines such thrilling plots with such utterly believable and well-rounded – and often tragically flawed - characters. Dan Brown eat your heart out.

Favourite album
September Of My Years, Frank Sinatra.
The greatest popular singer of all time at the height of his powers. A selection of beautiful, wistful songs that reflect on bygone youth without mawkishness. It strikes a chord.

Favourite TV programme
Talking Heads, the series of monologues written by Alan Bennett. All masterpieces of characterisation and observation.

Most humbling experience
The number of industry top bananas who showed up for the Groucho bash celebrating my 20 years at Campaign.

The lowdown
Campaign’s resident Grumpy Old Man and its last remaining link to the days of typewriters and Tippex, when a fax machine was as high-tech as it got and when WPP just made supermarket trolleys. Diehard tie-wearer. Hates achingly trendy wine bars. Loves Davidoff cigars and good brandy.