"I should have lied a bit."

In 1972, Englishman Keith Bantick founded Promotional Campaigns, Ltd.,which was purchased by Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide in 1987. Bantick stayed onas chairman, creative director, and ceo of the UK-based agency, developinga network covering 17 countries before leaving in '96 over differences withWPP Worldwide chairman Martin Sorrell. These days, he consults from hiscountry estate in Kent.

"Say what you have to in eight seconds."

Cambridge-educated Barry Clarke founded an agency outside London in 1974with fellow Procter & Gamble alumnus John Hooper. They took it public 12years later as Clarke Hooper plc, and Hooper left in 1992. Still chairmanof the agency (now a unit of BBDO Worldwide), Clarke will soon retire andconsult on a project basis from Slough.

"Get to know the headwaiter."

The flamboyant Brian Francis was the driving force behind legendary agencyFrancis, Killingbeck, and Bain (FKB). Opened in 1971, it was one of thefirst U.K. promotion agencies to go public and to go global, too. Prior toits financial implosion in 1989, FKB claimed full or part ownership in 21agencies worldwide. Its remains were purchased by Carlson Marketing in1990. Francis today toils at Cramm Francis Wolff, London.

"During good times, watch your flank."

Chicagoan Joe Flanagan founded Impact, the promotion arm of ad agency FooteCone Belding, in 1971. He and sidekick Sherwin Leff won enough businessover the years to transform the ad industry's only "homegrown," stand-alonepromo shop into what is now a $15 million enterprise employing 125 people.Flanagan left Impact earlier this year to open Flanagan Marketing inChicago.