Draft/FCB Seattle... Say it ain't sayonara!
Spies inside the world's worst agency tell me that the Seattle outpost is rapidly imploding. DraftFCB West COO (former President of the DraftFCB Seattle office) Kass Sells resigned last Friday. Word is that CFO of DraftFCB West Tara Charf isn't going to stick around in Seattle. Look for her to head to San Francisco to keep her post down there. Maybe HD&L could fly in and do an "inspirational" video, or organize a "rumble" to get the troops all jazzed up. Better yet, why not organize one of those lunch time concerts they do in New York... How about getting Britney to do a reprise of her MTV Awards show routine. C'mon Howard, get that fucking "Effen - Effen" flowing!
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Next time you put fat pics of me on your cel phone, it'll be the fucking Aston Martin!
What took the trio of thugs, HD&L so long? OR, better yet, if Kass actually did resign, what took him so long? Kass is a class act and a really good guy. Can't imagine that the current D/FCB "management team" could in anyway relate to Kass and Kass's brilliant management style. He's one very impressive guy. If he isn't already "taken" some smart agency/holding company OR client, should grab Kass. He's a true gem!!
Posted by: LAM | September 11, 2007 at 11:34 AM
IPG stock continues on a downward trend despite +180 on the Dow. This thing could be at $6.50 before year end. As it should be. P/E 100 vs. 15-20 for other holding cos.
Posted by: dickhurtz | September 11, 2007 at 12:25 PM
I think my last comment got burried on the earlier post... Hey LAM - Your take on the management teams at FCB and now Draft/FCB has been fascinating. As a former Grey gal, I'm curious what your take on Steve Blamer is. What's his role in all this and who would play him in the movie?
Posted by: jackie | September 11, 2007 at 03:20 PM
Good question, Jackie. No idea, what do you think??
Posted by: LAM | September 11, 2007 at 03:55 PM
Oh LAM, don't be coy. From your posts it's obvious that you worked closely with Brendan Ryan and Bob Oats and Louie and now this Kass gentleman when you were at FCB. You must have an opinion of Steve. I'm dying to hear it. Don't hold back. He made quite an impression on me in L.A.
Posted by: jackie | September 11, 2007 at 06:40 PM
A friend of mine is being courted by the Draft office in OC. What's the best warning I can give him aside from sending him here?
Posted by: Jason Fox | September 11, 2007 at 07:08 PM
Oh Jackie, I've never been accused of being coy...from my seat in Chicago I didn't have the opportunity to work closely with the man.
Posted by: LAM | September 11, 2007 at 08:35 PM
Thank God I dumped my IPG stock a couple of years ago. Thanks George for all the poop (aside from the pooper scooper carried daily).
Posted by: whodathunk | September 11, 2007 at 10:32 PM
jason, tell your friend to read these posts, don't take them at face value: check them out and then decide.
if he still decides to go over, tell him it's not goodbye, it's "till we meet again" because he'll be back soon enough judging by the state of things....
Posted by: the lower depths | September 12, 2007 at 05:16 AM
As LAM infers, it would be interesting to know if they resigned on their own, or if Laurence "resigned" them....giving them severance and a letting them save face professionally prior to being let go. H,D&L MUST be getting pressure from IPG to reign in costs, if they want to continue to keep their own bonuses/gyms/Nobu expense accounts.
Posted by: Auntie Christ | September 12, 2007 at 07:30 AM
Jason...
Yes, tell him to read AdScam... But if you really want to put the wind up him... Just tell him to google Laurence... Tons of really scary shit there, particularly before he stopped being Mother Theresa and discovered Mr Olympia.
Cheers/George
Posted by: George Parker | September 12, 2007 at 07:40 AM
Hmmm... my experience is that Kass was another tool -- completely clueless in all senses of the word -- in other words, perfect for Draft FCB -- but then again maybe that description is perfect for the Seattle Ad community -- which is pretty clueless in itself
Posted by: Dan | September 12, 2007 at 05:18 PM
whoa! what's wrong with seattle advertising? not enough awards? no hot shops?
Posted by: nien | September 12, 2007 at 07:24 PM
Thanks, George and TLD. I think he's heading out there this weekend. Although one look at real estate prices in OC compared to Dallas might make everything else moot. But he's a planner -- he has to research it for himself.
Posted by: Jason Fox | September 13, 2007 at 03:39 PM
Incorrect Dan. Kass is a class act all the way and Draft FCB needs to retain more people like him.
Posted by: RRM | September 14, 2007 at 07:21 AM