The oldest example of work on this site but nonetheless the most complex piece of project management that I have ever handled, demanded a large chunk of my time and one that I am rather proud of. The Saatchi & Saatchi Annual Report .

For 3 whole months (and for 6 consecutive years) I found myself entrenched in a secure, private, tailor-made office in Charlotte Street planning what was once described by an Art Director chum as the equivalent of the D-Day landings with wall-to-wall pinbords covered with schedules, lists, notes, contact details and creative proofs, strips of TV commercial film dangling from the ceiling, more filing trays than Rymans and the well-used Annual Report private line. I dread to think what the eventual phone bill was each year.

The document was considered far more than just the usual legal requirement for submission to Companies House, but was very much a major PR and New Business tool in the Saatchi world dominance plan and once ran to 6 volumes; (Report & Accounts, Company stance & philosophy, UK & Ireland, Europe, Far & Middle East and the US).

The annual Annual Report season would begin with 2 or 3 meetings with Charles & Maurice (it was 100% their baby!) and their PA, Simon Mellor where we would lay down the plan of attack of structure.

From there I would schedule the next 2 or 3 months with regards to access of financial information, the Chairman's Statement (politically vital as it related to many other issues), access, collection and selection of endless examples of creative work worldwide, production of artwork, proofing and approval procedure up to the final, legally required, delivery deadline.

This whole scenario demanded daily meetings with Charles & Maurice, Simon Mellor, the studio, the Print Department and hundreds of nagging phone calls to the International Network chasing information and creative work, as well as regular juggling of content in view of possible client conflict.

It also demanded 2 or 3 hours daily design work as well as handling my day-to-day business for the likes of IBM, British Airways and the Conservative Party. Good game.

The Saatchi & Saatchi Annual Reports attracted many awards including the prestigious Guardian Newspaper Annual Report of the Year and, because of its success,
I was asked to design and produce Annual Reports for Highland Distilleries and The Trafalgar House Group.