Industry mourns passing of Ben Roach, 36

<P>The Asian advertising world has lost one of its finest characters with the tragic passing of Ben Roach, 36, on 3 July.</P> <P>Roach started his career as a writer with the Toowoomba Chronicle, then as a copywriter with Kelly G in Brisbane, Australia, before making his mark with Bates Cambodia in the early days of the market's advertising scene. </P> <P>He went on to become the first general manager of 141 Cambodia, overseeing its blue-chip international client roster, which included British American Tobacco, Caltex Cambodia, Heineken and MobiTel. Following stints with Goldsun in Vietnam and Ogilvy Thailand, Raoch retired from the advertising game to Krabi, Thailand, where he had recently opened a beach-front tapas bar called Fusion, with his girlfriend, Vee. He had just turned 36. </P> <P>Roach's original profession may have been a wordsmith, but his real passion and talent lay as a story-teller. His droll Aussie humour was masterly in recounting the day's events. </P> <P>Roach was known for his laconic, ironic observations, and choices in vocation and location made for fertile subject matter. He will be missed.</P>