• by Richard Whitman , Columnist, July 23, 2014

Arnold Boston is moving offices, and it would appear from a Craigslist post that they are selling an Emmy Award -- an "actual Emmy award, and a good one, too, not a crappy Daytime one” -- as part of the agency's moving sale. The ad reads, in part, "You have the trophy wife. You have the trophy car. From our vantage point, it looks like all you're missing is the trophy trophy. Well, the last piece of your carefully constructed façade is about to slide into place. You, sir, are about to win an Emmy. And when you casually mention that you won an Emmy in a slightly-too-loud voice while you're waiting for a table at The Cheesecake Factory, you won't even be lying. (Not that we're accusing you of having such omega-male scruples.) No one has to know that you won it in the Arnold Moving Sale." The listing uses the term "trophy wife" three times. Not the best wording for an industry with a 3% problem. And what, a woman isn't worthy of an Emmy?

A recent study from Marketing Week and Weber Shandwick indicates specialty consultants may soon be eating most ad agencies’ lunches. When asked to whom marketers turn when dealing with marketing challenges, agencies are still cited the most at 30% but consultants were cited by 22% of respondents. In other findings, while AOR status is on the decline, 42% of marketers still turn to an agency as a strategic lead. In terms of the types of agencies marketers turn to for strategic advice, the traditional ad agency is still on top with 20% followed by the digital agency at 18%, the branding agency at 16%, the media agency at 15%, the PR agency at 13% and the social media agency at a negligible 2%. All hail whatever life support is keeping traditional ad agencies in business! It's not all good news though. The same study found measurement/ROI, analytics and marketing personalization to be the three biggest areas in which agencies lack.

Did you miss Bob Hoffman's awesome talk during Advertising Week Europe? If so, you absolutely have to watch it here. Or you can see his keynote during the RAB's 2014 Radio Show in Indianapolis September 10 at 3:34PM. Why should you care? Hoffman is a voice of reason in our increasingly crazy world of advertising. His no bullshit, down to earth insight will have you questioning and reexamining everything you do. And if you need a daily dose of his magic, you can check out his blog, The Ad Contrarian. 

Chris Jordan, CEO of Y&R Canada since 2002 has left the agency. A statement issued by the agency reads, “We are thankful to Chris Jordan for his 12 years of leadership at Y&R Canada, and we wish him the very best moving forward.  As we continue to evolve as an agency, we are recognizing the immense value of the leadership of Israel Diaz, EVP, chief creative officer; Carl McMurray, SVP, chief financial officer; Susan Murray, EVP, chief marketing officer; Kasi Bruno, VP, strategy & cultural insights; and Gavin Bayley, SVP, global client leader.  Effective immediately, this talented group comprises the senior leadership team of Y&R Canada, reporting into Y&R North America CEO Matt Anthony and Y&R North America COO Sean Howard.”

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