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 Not even a week ago, you packed your bags, and left us. Like that. Frantic packing, a last drink, a last meal, a last smile. Going East. Moving to China. Of all places. You left us a lot: a lonely pigeonhole, an empty desk, and frankly a bit more loneliness than you can imagine. It’s, well… different without you.

I knew you had some blue sky in your passport, that you were a restless soul, and that we were extremely lucky to have had you around in our office for six years. I even thought, a split second, that you finally dropped anchor.

You made me dream of the world out there. You pushed me gently to go out, meet people, see places. If today I work in an international environment, it’s because you showed me how to. Your friendly, encouraging eyes in countless brainstorms, pitches and meetings made me believe that I could do what I do.

John Orme, you may have moved to China, but you can not hide. Your stories stay. We talk to the young ones about that guy who discovered the Six Pistols, drank tea with Lou Reed, buried John Lennon, and helped us win the Bluetooth account. I’m afraid you became a legend.

To stay in the hearts of those you love, is not to go…. Come back soon .

Danny Devriendt is the Managing Director of IPG/Dynamic in Brussels, and the CEO of The Eye of Horus, a global think-tank focusing on innovative technology topics. With a proven track record in leadership mentoring, C-level whispering, strategic communications and a knack for spotting meaningful trends, Danny challenges the status quo and embodies change. Attuned to the subtlest signals from the digital landscape, Danny identifies significant trends in science, economics, culture, society, and technology and assesses their potential impact on brands, organizations, and individuals. His ability for bringing creative ideas, valuable insights, and unconventional solutions to life, makes him an invaluable partner and energizing advisor for top executives. Specializing in innovation -and the corporate communications, influence, strategic positioning, exponential change, and (e)reputation that come with it-, Danny is the secret weapon that you hope your competitors never tap into. As a guest lecturer at a plethora of universities and institutions, he loves to share his expertise with future (and current) generations. Having studied Educational Sciences and Agogics, Danny's passion for people, Schrödinger's cat, quantum mechanics, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy fuels his unique, outside-of-the-box thinking. He never panics. Previously a journalist in Belgium and the UK, Danny joined IPG Mediabrands in 2012 after serving as a global EVP Digital and Social for the Porter Novelli network (Omnicom). His expertise in managing global, regional, or local teams; delivering measurable business growth; navigating fierce competition; and meeting challenging deadlines makes him an seasoned leader. (He has a microwave at home.) An energetic presenter, he brought his enthusiasm, clicker and inspiring slides to over 300 global events, including SXSW, SMD, DMEXCO, Bluetooth World Congress, GSMA MWC, and Cebit. He worked with an impressive portfolio of clients like Bayer AG, 3M, Coca Cola, KPMG, Tele Atlas, Parrot, The Belgian National Lottery, McDonald's, Colruyt, Randstad, Barco, Veolia, Alten, Dow, PWC, the European Commission, Belfius, and HP. He played a pivotal role in Bluetooth's global success. Ranked 3rd most influential ad executive on Twitter by Business Insider and listed among the top 10 ad execs to follow by CEO Magazine, Danny also enjoys writing poetry and short stories, earning several literary awards in Belgium and the Netherlands. Fluent in Dutch, French, and English, Danny is an eager and versatile communicator. His BBQ skills are legendary.

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