Death of David Hackett

David Hackett has died aged 70, after a long battle with cancer. He was one of the pioneers of the UK agency business and had a reputation for a no-nonsense approach. He co-founded The Travel Organisation and his aggressive sales approach delivered some large corporate accounts. The Travel Organisation (later acquired by BI Worldwide) began trading in January, 1980. The business was rebranded The Marketing Organisation in 1989 and by this time employed 140 people in the Newport Pagnell office, UK. The business was sold to BI Worldwide in July, 2001 and, after a couple of years, Hackett stepped down. Ex-business partner Chris Pouncey said: “Fortitude, resilience, grit and determination were some of David’s most notable qualities. He just refused to be beaten by anyone or anything. This was illustrated by his love of Chumbawamba’s famous hit Tubthumping to which he danced memorably at his party in Majorca, despite his illness – hurling himself to the floor at every chorus: ‘I get knocked down, but I get up again, you’re never gonna keep me down’. Amen Hackett. Keep thumping that tub.” Ex-colleague and DMC Stuart McLauchlan worked with Hackett on many events in Spain. He said: “One of David’s many great assets was his ability to get to the nub of any seemingly complicated issue, cut through the crap and come up with a sensible workable solution – even if it meant ruffling a few feathers… He will be sorely missed.” Hackett served this industry in a number of voluntary roles, latterly on the executive committee of Meeting Needs, the event industry charity. He leaves a wife, Sharon, and three children. A memorial service will be held when restrictions permit. For further information contact Sharon Hackett at sharon.mcdonough@icloud.com