OK... So you all know I've posted in the past on the immanent demise of both the Intel and Microsoft accounts from McCann, San Francisco (Yeah I know some of the work originates in NYC, but the accounts are handled out of SF, primarily by a bunch of ex O&M'ers) The first big crack in the dyke came today with the news that Microsoft has awarded a $300 million project to Crispin... That's right, a $300 million "Project!" Fuck there aren't many accounts that big. Plus, as MS spent a total of $325 million last year, does that mean McCann is left with a $25 million account? As you know, I am not a fan of a lot of CPB's later frat boy humor stuff, but Jesus, they must do better than most of the shit McCann has dumped on the public in the last few years. Remember the fucking "Butterfly Guy," and the asinine monster shit they're still running? Before the year is out, the entire account will be history, and I'll guarantee Intel won't be far behind. I've worked on both accounts in the past, and yeah, they're difficult clients... , But at Chiat and O&M, we did better work, you just have to have the balls to sell it. If you don't believe me, check out the work Goodby, Silverstein does for HP!
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So what's next "Subservient Butterfly?"
Another red letter day for the gang at IPG. I liked that campaign "The computer is personal again" for HP, a lot of artistry in it. It seems the lustre is gone from saying you do or ever did work for O&M. Sad.
Posted by: Auntie Christ | February 27, 2008 at 04:58 PM
No more free x-boxes for the McCann folks, they'll have to buy them like the rest of us now.
Posted by: Jane Sample | February 27, 2008 at 06:24 PM
Maybe Nina should have spent more time "clawing up the Microsoft boys' club."
Posted by: Tanner | February 27, 2008 at 06:46 PM
you made the ny post. you're helping make rupert even richer. that has to be a good feeling ;-)
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02262008/business/blogs_of_death_99343.htm
Posted by: veedub | February 27, 2008 at 07:45 PM
Float like a butterfly, sting like a Tilley reference in the Post.
Posted by: cranky wanker | February 27, 2008 at 09:22 PM
Size of Microsoft budget not going to McCann? $300 million
Amazon.com price for "Seducing the Boys Club? $16.50
Seeing the mighty fall for focusing on self-promotion when they should be promoting their client? Priceless!
Posted by: Nom de Blogg | February 28, 2008 at 04:01 AM
You're absolutely right Nom de Blogg. In fact, I couldn't have put it more cleverly myself.
And as far as what George has been saying about Intel, he's right on the money.
The big swinging cock who runs THAT piece of business seems to spend more time on the tanning bed than running the business.
Posted by: Putney Swope | February 28, 2008 at 05:43 AM
The title aloneNina Disease-a says it's ok to wear a wet tee-shirt into a meeting AND slap the guy that looks. Sorry I never worked for her, dog that I am.
Posted by: Auntie Christ | February 28, 2008 at 07:58 AM
delete those first three words. brain fart.
Posted by: Auntie Christ | February 28, 2008 at 07:59 AM
IPG earnings release tomorrow. If negative, in combo with this news should drive stock down a buck or more.
Posted by: oprah obama | February 28, 2008 at 08:44 AM
C’mon. Are all those comments by folks from the industry? Could you please have read carefully and done the math. The creative assignment is about a campaign that is backed by a $200 million to $300 million media budget (see http://adage.com/article?article_id=122342) for reference). A media budget doesn’t say anything about what actually will be left for the creative agency for handling the campaign. Also, as AdAge points out, McCann’s budget of $325 million is a part of a $1 billion Microsoft has spent last year in measured and unmeasured marketing (see http://adage.com/agencynews/article?article_id=125393 for reference). It probably might be wrong suggesting the $300 million of CB+P’s assignment just leave $25 million for McCann, don’t you think?
Posted by: Martin | February 28, 2008 at 11:17 AM
"Crack in the dyke ..."
George, your scatology is getting downright subliminal.
Crack on!
Der S.
Posted by: Der Senator | February 28, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Oh, dearie me, Martin. Have we offended your sense of what's proper there in the IPG PR dept?
How amateurish of us to use a metric that's only used in, like, the entire ad industry. So terribly, terribly sorry to have offended your "industry insider" sensibilities.
But thanks for pointing out the error of our numerically challenged ways. Of course, next time McCann or any IPG shop wins a piece of business, we can no doubt expect the release to read: "McCann Wins $50 million account - But That Budget Grossly Overstates The Value of This Win".
Posted by: Nom de Blogg | February 28, 2008 at 11:37 AM
McMann shit the bed on their global microsoft and intel contracts when it let their EMEA and LATAM units keep media volume rebates instead of rebating them to their local clients, as per contract. thats called stealing. PIG restated earnings to fix this lil mess, and McMann paid a shit boat full of money to make good. too late, fuckers!
praise da lord for SARBOX cuz it keeps scum like PIG and McMann from boldfaced thievery. mullahfuckas!
Posted by: jesus saves | February 28, 2008 at 11:37 AM
McMann shit the bed on their global microsoft and intel contracts when it let their EMEA and LATAM units keep media volume rebates instead of rebating them to their local clients, as per contract. thats called stealing. PIG restated earnings to fix this lil mess, and McMann paid a shit boat full of money to make good. too late, fuckers!
praise da lord for SARBOX cuz it keeps scum like PIG and McMann from boldfaced thievery. mullahfuckas!
Posted by: jesus saves | February 28, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Martin's right. And George, you're wrong about Intel. San Francisco has never done any Intel work. It’s all out of NY.
Posted by: anon | February 28, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Intel is run entirely out of NY. The CD on it is a control freak named Tom Bagot, brother of Rob Bagot who is the ECD of the SF office. He reports to Bill Oberlander.
TB is an old O&Mer who worked under the close hand of Chris Wall for years (George, you must know him). In an 18 month span, TB's antic's have caused the account to go through over a dozen creatives, no exaggeration. For all intents and purposes, he is the only writer on the account and is responsible for, among other things, those atrocious small space ads that appear on the cover of the WSJ, as well as the recent "TV spots" with talking chips.
The word on the street about Intel is SO pervasive and bad that the agency has not been able to hire any new creatives on it.
The most fucked up thing? The main client, Nancy Bhagat LOVES the work McCann produces. Bagot actually won "All-star" recognition on the client's annual agency report card.
Posted by: Tom Bagot | February 28, 2008 at 12:37 PM
well, whoever anon is, must either work or have worked at mccan't on intel. info is spot on. i know because i was one of those dozen or so creatives to leave because tom is such a douchebag. and a horrific writer. and an insanely pro-bush republican.
on the phone to a recruiter today, i heard that they are looking for, and i quote, 'Wiedens and Crispin level creatives to work on Inhell.
i guess if bill O had not spent so much time in the tanning salon, screwing sasha shor or whoever his current assistant is, the work might actually be decent. but then maybe not as bill gave up the ghost years ago.
intel doesn't help matters by rotating their marketing department every six months, so the moment you have educated one set, the next bunch of overzealous monkies arrive.
the best intel work coming out of IPG is from MRM, who have created pretty good stuff for the gamer side of the account.
it's been a while since i woke up and thanked god i don't work there anymore. and this article has just reminded me to not be ungreatful for small miracles.
Posted by: countdown to destruction | February 28, 2008 at 03:06 PM
Dear Nom de Blogg, I'm sorry but, you haven't offended my sense nor my sensibilities. If in case you are really just judging this news based on quote: 'a metric that's only used in, like, the entire ad industry', I don't get what the fuss is all about. CB+P won an assignment for a one-off campaign with, in respect to its marketing goals, a big media budget. So what? $300 million in media were at no point supposed to be going to whatever agency anyway but, maybe I just missed when CB+P or McCann suddenly turned into media companies like News Corp. or Time Warner. Stupid me.
Posted by: Martin | February 28, 2008 at 04:36 PM
While we're talking McCann't SF, can anyone confirm if John McNeil did indeed leave, and under what circumstances?
Posted by: Tom Bagot | February 28, 2008 at 05:18 PM
McNeil hasn't left the agency but he was taken of the Microsoft account because the client hates him and won't deal with him any longer.
As matter of fact, he was taken off the acount during the $300 million pitch. The Xbox CDs ended up presenting the work because they actullay have a good relationship with MSFT.
Now McNeil is screwing up already awful Nortel work ever further. And he's supposed to be working on new business which is a joke because they haven't won shit in a pitch while he's been there (Nortel and HP came aboard w/o pitch thanks to former O&M relationships). Hell, they pitched some mattress account a year ago and couldn't even win that.
My guess is McNeil has some fat contract that they don't want to pay out so they're keeping him around for now. (He also fancies himself a photographer and fucked up the Office2007 shoot...lighting is not John's strength).
Oh, and Rob Bagot...smart guy but a total social retard.
Posted by: Kloser | February 28, 2008 at 05:54 PM
Hmm. Not sure I believe any creative person has ever had a good relationship with MSFT, or Intel for that matter...
Posted by: Edw3rd | February 28, 2008 at 07:06 PM
By good relationship w/MSFT, I mean the Xbox creative team has good relationship with the Xbox client (they've been allowed to good work) who certainly differs from the software group.
Do those guys get along with other MSFT groups? Or did they even deal with any of them before? Dunno, but they didn't have any of the baggage McNeil has after three years on the job. This is the man that ended up selling the "Wow" campaign for Vista (to be fair, the client is equally responsible for that shit brick) and brow beat them into "New Day, New Office."
So Matt Ross took him out of the equation.
Posted by: Kloser | February 28, 2008 at 11:30 PM
Now mcneil is gone and rob bagot's hanging on for dear life.
Posted by: papa | December 18, 2008 at 08:02 AM
Bagot has finally been fired. Intel finally leaves McCann. McCann loses Intel to Venables Bell.
Posted by: theinsider | January 14, 2009 at 01:47 PM
Re: above, meant Tom Bagot
Posted by: theinsider | January 14, 2009 at 01:48 PM