Geoff Smith and Simon Morris, creators of ‘Reg’, the famous Regal
smoker, are returning to Lowe Howard-Spink, the agency for which they
created the larger-than-life character.
The move ends the pair’s two-year spell at Banks Hoggins O’Shea, and
reunites them with Lowes’ creative director, Paul Weinberger.
Lowes still holds the Regal account for Imperial Tobacco, although the
company has not spent money on the brand recently.
Smith says they are looking forward to returning to Lowes, and intend to
apply the skills they have learned in the more ‘hands on’ environment of
Banks Hoggins. They will become one of six senior creative teams,
working across all accounts.
Smith commented: ‘The move back will definitely not include a return to
tobacco advertising. We’ve already done the comedy route with Regal, and
the more serious approach with Death [the cigarette brand formerly
handled by Banks Hoggins]. I think we’ve already covered both ends.’
Smith began his advertising career at Delaney Fletcher Delaney having
first completed a psychology degree at Goldsmiths College in London.
From there, he moved to Lowes, where he met up with Morris, who was a
new recruit from the now defunct School of Communication Arts in
Clerkenwell.
They went on to win a silver D&AD and a platinum Creative Circle award
for their work on Regal, before leaving to become creative partners at
Banks Hoggins, where they worked on accounts such as Snapple and
Gardenia garden equipment, as well as Death.
Weinberger commented: ‘They started their career together at Lowes, and
produced some great work. We are looking forward to them coming back and
producing a whole lot more.’
Chris O’Shea, a founding partner at Banks Hoggins, said he regretted the
pair’s departure, but that he should be able to announce their
replacements in the near future. ‘They’re great guys, but they were made
an offer they couldn’t refuse - and they didn’t,’ he said.
