Sir John Moody Albert Ilott

1 Nov

John Ilott changed the face of advertising, using his fortune to promote the arts, literacy and a range of worthy causes.

He took over as chief executive of his father’s advertising agency, J. Ilott, in 1917, enhancing the agency’s reputation for innovative campaigns for a range of businesses and causes. Under his direction, Ilott Advertising went national and spread to London and Australia.

John Ilott, who retired in 1952, had helped form the New Zealand Crippled Children Society in 1934–35. He later donated his extensive collection of etchings and engravings to the National Art Gallery.

Another of his legacies was the John Ilott Charitable Trust, set up in 1960 to provide assistance for a range of special projects.