Alan Young, the ‘Al’ of Trev and Al, has quit the creative think-tank he
founded with Trevor Robinson only three months ago to return to Howell
Henry Chaldecott Lury.
Young said the split had caused no bad feelings between the two
partners, but claimed he preferred agency life to the cut and thrust of
directing commercials. ‘The parting is no reflection on my relationship
with Trev - it was just time to go our separate ways,’ he said.
Robinson added: ‘It’s the old thing of Al feeling out of his depth in
directing. The security of a big advertising agency suits him more. We
are still the best of mates and all that. It was killing Al. I love
editing, directing and working with actors, and he doesn’t like that. Al
just wants to be in a controlled environment, whereas Howell Henry was
stifling me.’
The move will break up Young and Robinson’s eight-year creative
partnership, although the pair claim they will come together again if
the need arises.
The two of them rose to fame for their work on Tango, Bhs, Ronseal and
Golden Wonder Pots.
Trev and Al was set up in September in conjunction with the production
company, Jane Fuller Associates, to offer the creative duo’s services
throughout the creative process - from the ideas stage, through filming,
to the finished article.
Since then, it has handled projects such as Martini and Apple Tango for
Howell Henry and Lukcy Lotto for Bartle Bogle Hegarty.
Robinson stressed that Trev and Al will continue as an entity, but that
a change of name is being considered. Young will not be replaced
directly, he explained, although his role will be covered by various
freelancers.
‘As far as I’m concerned, without Al, nothing has changed,’ Robinson
said. ‘I’ve been doing more and more by myself, and I’ll take on people
when I require them.’
Meanwhile, Young will take up his new role as a copywriter and overseer
of individual projects at Howell Henry in the new year. The joint
creative director, Axel Chaldecott, confirmed the agency had already
begun searching for an art director for him.
