Daring came to prominence in the 1980s with Burgess Daring Associates which for a long period during the 80s was the most successful agency in the region specialising in IT B2B advertising.

The agency subsequently split up when he and Tom Burgess went their own ways: Burgess moving south to focus on IT PR while Daring established KMP in 1991.

KMP with around 20 staff has consistently been at the forefront of digital marketing activities since its inception. The agency’s roster of clients includes Manchester Airport, ASDA, Barclaycard, British Gas, Chester Zoo, Dept of Work & Pensions, Makro, Open University, Punch Taverns, Renold, Royal Liver, Shop Direct Group and SSL.

Jon Keefe, KMP’s managing director and Daring’s son Gerard have effectively been running the company over the past few months.

KMP Statement - 1 January 2010

On Sunday morning 27 December, in peace and surrounded by his family, a pillar of the North West digital sector and one of KMP Digitata’s founders Bill Daring passed away after a short period of illness.

Bill, who retired from KMP Digitata earlier in the year, will be remembered for his significant contributions to the Manchester advertising industry during the 80’s and the North West Digital sector from 1993 onwards, right up until earlier this year when illness finally restricted him to his beloved farm in Hazel Grove.

Bill played a wider role in the regional digital arena. He contributed to Skillset and other NWDA ventures in the digital space and lectured at both Salford and MMU. He was also a great supporter of local businesses in Stockport and advocated bringing on talent from the local colleges and universities.

Following Bill’s retirement as Chairman, Jon Keefe another of KMP Digitata’s founders became CEO while Rhodri Edwards Client Services Director and Gez Daring Bill’s eldest son and Client Services Manager were both promoted to the Board of KMP Digitata. In true KMP style Bill and Jon had ensured the next generation of management had been groomed to step up to the plate. KMP Digitata completed another successful year in the challenging economic conditions and the Company has had a successful first quarter with significant new business wins in the form of clients ClearDebt and Trek America part of TUI Group plc.

Jon Keefe KMP Digitata’s CEO commented: “I will miss him as a business partner, a sparring partner and dear friend. KMP Digitata will go on from strength to strength benefiting from Bill’s skills that he passed on. But right now our thoughts are with Gez, Alan, and Alison and the rest of Bill’s family.”

Funeral arrangements

The funeral will take place on Monday 11 January.

The Service of Remembrance will be at 2.45pm at St. Thomas’s Church in High Lane. All are welcome. Following the service there will be a reception at The Red Lion from 4pm.

The family ask that you don’t send flowers; tributes to Bill in the form of donations to the Arthritis Research Campaign (ARC) or Cancer Research UK would be greatly appreciated.

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Comments (34)

8  By Craig McGinty , on 27-12-2009 20:45 So sad to hear this news, Bill always had time to chat and connected so many people. He will be missed. Report

9  By Paul Fabretti , on 27-12-2009 21:00 I wouldn't be where I am now, doing what I am doing now had I not had the fortune to have worked with Bill - he took a chance on me 3 years ago and I haven't looked back since.    As Steve said, Bill had a certain "style" about him, but did so only because he cared so passionately!! He was a hugely talented, knowledgeable and inspirational man and will be sadly missed by many, many people. Report

11  By Stuart Bruce , on 28-12-2009 10:42 I only had the privilege of meeting Bill a couple of times, but it wasn't hard to tell that he was a true pioneer. The North West marketing industry will be poorer without him. Report

13  By Simon Wharton , on 28-12-2009 20:44 I knew he was ill, just not how ill. Every time I met him I came away a little wiser.Everybody who is anybody in our industry knew him, and almost uniquely for our sector, I don't recall a bad word said about him.  I hope that we gather to raise a toast to him in the near future Report

14  By John McNicholas , on 29-12-2009 07:25 I have played rugby, worked for, worked with and know Bill and family for almost 30 years. After mentoring me most of this time I work in NYC as a marketing director for a Fortune 500 corporation. No one I have met in all of this time has been as well balanced and brilliant as Bill. He leaves a hole in our lives that cannot be filled. I was lucky to know him. Our thoughts are with his family. Report

16  By Mark Garner , on 29-12-2009 19:30 Blimey Bill, you were my first competitor in the dot com space in 1996 - ish? I had no idea you were poorly. You were a gentleman who always bought his round and a wily old fox to boot. We should have done that pint you talked about last time we shook hands. God bless you. This lot think social media is the future, then again Bill I remember you and I on a platform shaking our heads at the people telling us that Netscape and AOL would own the world in ten years time. I will miss you. Report

20  By Manoj Ranaweera , on 31-12-2009 18:42 Shocked to hear Bill has passed away! I was not aware of his illness. I did not know him personally, but have met him couple of times in the past. Big Chip Awards may have been the last time I met him, where he spoke about the next phase of growth. He was a very likeable chap and very well connected within the north west digital sector.     Gez, on behalf of Northern StartUp 2.0 community, please accept our deepest sympathies for your loss!    Manoj Report

24  By Rob Brown , on 04-01-2010 10:29 Like Nigel S., I first met Bill when he was a lecturer on the CAM course at what is now MMU. He was a genuinely inspiring individual. We met several times over the last couple of years to discuss innovations in the digital sector and although we never managed to work together we did manage a convivial lunch last year for which I am grateful. I admired Bill. I'm really sorry he's gone. Report