MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The global creative community lost one of its advocates recently with the news of Tony Gulisano passing away. Gulisano was a stalwart with The One Club for Creativity, which released a statement on this tragic news.
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“We at The One Club for Creativity are truly devastated to announce the passing of our One Club colleague, industry mainstay, and dear, dear friend Tony Gulisano, who left us suddenly this morning at the age of 70.
While Tony was a part of our family since 2015, serving as our Chief Growth Officer, that is but a fraction of what he has been to the global advertising industry at large for more than 40 years. An eternal optimist, a happy warrior in the fight to elevate brilliant creative work and the people who make it, Tony grew his friendship circle to encompass the globe, be it through helming the Clio Awards for more than a quarter-century, consulting on the London International Awards, or holding court in the South of France each June, where everybody knew his cheerful smile.
Last year, Tony was one of the driving forces behind the launch of our ONE School program to expand the industry’s pipeline for young Black talent, and just this week, he solidified our brand-new International Board of Directors — filled with leaders from every corner of the globe who no doubt valued Tony’s friendship as much as we did.
Plans to memorialize Tony during our upcoming Creative Week in May are underway, as is a celebration of his life this summer. In the meantime, we will be collecting and sharing memories from Tony’s galaxy of friends in the industry. If you’d like to contribute your own “Tony tale” — many likely including his “you can’t make it up!” catchphrase — please reach out to Brett McKenzie, The One Club’s Content Manager, at brett@oneclub.org.
Godspeed, Tony. We’ll leave the pot of really, really dark coffee on for you.”
The One Club for Creativity exists to support and celebrate the success of the global creative community. They are a diverse tribe of creative thinkers and doers who believe that creativity is the most powerful element to business success.
They are a non-profit organization that pours everything they make back into nurturing a more vibrant and inspired global creative community. The One Club for Creativity is behind The One Show and the ADC Annual Awards, two of the most coveted accolades in the history of the advertising industry.
The One Show Pencil represents the creativity of big ideas paired with quality execution. Meanwhile, the ADC Cube symbolizes meticulous craftsmanship, design, and innovation.
News of Gulisano’s passing quickly spread throughout the global industry, with tributes pouring in from everywhere.
Yasuharu Sasaki, Chief Creative Officer at Dentsu Inc. in Tokyo, Japan, said “I got really sad news today. Tony, a good mentor and a good friend of mine for more than 15 years, has passed away. When I met him, I could not speak English well and had no achievements, but he was so kind and sincere to me and always supported me with a gentle smile at every point for a long time. I had yet to give anything back to him… Thank you Tony, and may you rest in peace.”
“Truly saddened to receive news from The One Club for Creativity on the passing of their Chief Growth Officer, Tony Gulisano,” shared Angel Guerrero, Founder, President & Editor-in-Chief of adobo magazine in the Philippines. “Tony was always positive in his outlook, open and genuine in his pursuit for creativity.”
“A good buddy to many in the ad industry worldwide. I first met Tony when he was consulting for the London International Awards in Vegas, then again in Busan, Korea at Ad Stars amongst young creatives, and more recently in Shanghai in 2018 for the One Show China week. On each encounter Tony was there to talk to, give support, and a good friend to have a drink with. Rest in Peace, Tony. We will miss you dearly.”
“I first met Tony in 2000 when I was judging at Clio Awards in Aspen of all places,” bared Jeremy Craigen, Director, The Craigen Partnership in the United Kingdom. “Since then it seems we’ve travelled the world together. Santa Fe, Miami, Las Vegas, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Busan, Cannes, Berlin, London, and New York. And of course, no trip to New York would be complete without a pint with Tony at his favorite watering hole, Phebe’s.”
“Tony knew everyone in the business but always made you feel that you were his best friend (or favorite nephew!) as he did with so many others. A truly loved man as witnessed by so many wonderful tributes on social media. Tony, I will miss you so much but next time I’m in New York I will make my way down to Phebe’s, order a pint, and think of all the many happy memories we shared together.”
Tay Guan Hin, Chief Creative Officer, BBDO Singapore, Singapore, paid the following tribute: “Dear friend and genuinely warm human being, a true torchbearer of creative excellence in the advertising industry and one of the legends of the advertising awards industry. The game is never the same when people like you go. I will, we all will, miss you. Always. RIP.”
“Am so saddened to hear this shocking news. I cannot find the words. My heart is heavy and aches at this loss,” lamented Fadi Yaish, Founder and Chief Creative Officer, and Us, Facebook EMEA, Creative Council, in the United Arab Emirates. “I was just talking to Tony the day before yesterday!!! And like every time and at all times he meets you with a big smile and first thing he sincerely asks you about is your health.”
“Tony Gulisano has always been genuinely caring and loving. Committed beyond words to bridge between creative people and support them across the world. Not once did I feel that he expected anything in return. He just utterly invested in pushing us all forward no matter what it takes. The global creative community and the industry at large lost a true legend. My heart goes out to his family, Kevin Swanepoel and The One Club for Creativity Team, and everyone around the world who loved him. Rest In peace, my dear friend. You will be deeply missed. We love you.”
Ujaya Shakya, Managing Director of Outreach Nepal, said, “Rest in Peace my friend Tony Gulisano. A person who has always worked to elevate great creative works and people behind those works. We all three brothers had the privilege to know him and get inspired. It’s a big loss to advertising friends across the world (also his endeavor to promote Asian advertising).”
“Dear friend and genuinely warm human being, a true torchbearer of creative excellence in the advertising industry and one of the legends of the advertising awards industry,” is how Ravi Despande, Founder and Chairman, WHYNESS WORLDWIDE in Mumbai, India, described Gulisano. “The game is never the same when people like you go. I will, we all will, miss you. Always.”
Finally, Jureeporn Thaidumrong, Creative Chairperson, CCO, GreynJUnited in Bangkok, Thailand, paid her respects: “I don’t want to believe this. We had just met on Zoom lately and you were the same every time we met – enthusiastic, positive, genuinely caring – a nicest lovely guy in the ad world who can say anything, and people would agree to do so. You’re so kind and no one can deny your beautiful soul. Your legacy will continue to live on. Rest In peace my dear friend, the one and only Tony Gulisano.”
adobo magazine sends its sincerest condolences to the family and colleagues that Tony Gulisano leaves behind. May he rest in peace.
