When he graduated from Durham University in 1967 he first worked as an executive in a large advertising agency, Hobson Bates Limited. In 1970 he joined the fledgling commercials production company then known as Brooks Baker Fulford, later to become BFCS.
He stayed with them for 27 years, becoming partner and Managing Director in 1977, and President of the United States operation, BFCS. in 1982. Judged on awards, BFCS was one of the most successful commercials production companies in the world during the late 1970s and the early 1980s. After a 30-year career in the advertising business, Cigarini retired in 1996, and now divides his time between the Tuscany/Umbria region of Italy during the summers, and the East Cape of Baja California, Mexico during the winters.
He was 70 years old in June 2014 and was made an Honorary Citizen of San Leo Bastia, Umbria on that day.
He is the author of Johnny Cigarini Confessions of a King’s Road Cowboy (memoirs of a terrible name-dropper).
