Creative director, writer, commercial TV director and producer John Bilney passed away in Victoria, BC, on July 18 at the age of 76. English-born, Bilney came to Canada in 1953 and began his advertising career as ad manager at Sears in Ottawa. Later, he became CD at MacLaren, J. Walter Thompson, Vickers & Benson in Canada and McCann-Erickson in Australia.

As owner of Rose Magwood, Bilney produced and/or directed over 1,000 commercials which earned many awards, including Gold Lions, Clios, Bessies and Hollywood and Chicago TV Commercial Awards. While working as CD at Mediacom before retiring in 1996, Bilney spent much of his time speaking to international ad industry groups on the subject of creativity.