From small beginnings on a flat balcony in Hillbrow where he started Colorflo Point of Sale, Puttergill established himself as an international player in the outdoor advertising industry and at one stage owned the largest outdoor advertising company in South Africa – Rent-a-Sign – which he later sold to Corpcom (now Clear Channel Outdoor)
Patrick Horrigan from Global Outdoor Systems said Puttergill’s indomitable spirit then enabled him to start another outdoor company (Global Outdoor Systems) at a time when most other men would have been considering hanging up their spurs and doing the retirement thing.
“Over the years Brian mentored many current day industry leaders, and under his guidance many a small outdoor company was formed, some of which have grown to become large organisations today,” Horrigan said.
His commitment to outdoor was not only for the success of his own company and he was a major force in establishing the International Outdoor Advertising Conferences for the English speaking nations in 1979. He then played a key role in helping to organise a number of important international conferences in the US, Australia, South Africa, UK and Canada through the ’80s and ’90s.
“Brian was a key figure in the development of the outdoor industry in South Africa, and his commitment to the industry trade associations, past and present was unequalled. He will be sadly missed by us all and we extend our sympathy to Felicity, his sons Dax and Shawn and daughters Brooke, Denee and Eve,” said Horrigan.
The crew from Airport Media had this tribute: “Brian Puttergill was known amongst the advertising/outdoor fraternity as the ‘father’ of South African Outdoor during the ’80s and ’90s both here in South Africa and was highly regarded internationally. His company Rent-a-Sign was the outdoor market leader before being sold to Corpcom which later became Clear Channel International. He was an amazing entrepreneur with brilliant vision and his sense of fun and fairness was well-known. He was a wonderful character whom no one could deny lived life to its fullest and it will be with great, great sadness that he will be laid to rest a day after what would have been his 67th birthday.”
