McCann

Yesterday it was brought to our attention that McCann SF has lost a piece of Microsoft business. The PR teams within the agency patently denied what we knew to be true. Fine, but then our sources got confirmation of what we already believed was true. Said one source, "MCCANN SF lost the MS office account. [T]his is NOT reflected in the 50 leaving now, that was based on previous loss of MS. Office will make the sting worse."

Then another, "Office is moving for the Office 2010 launch. McCann SF continues to handle Windows Mobile; T.A.G. continues to handle Xbox...they will also handle Pink/Tribe."

Adweek has a bit more on this if you care to check that out.

More: "McCann to Lose 50 in July"

The issue here is less about this news, that as we reported McCann's San Francisco office will let 50 or so folks go this month, and more about the state of the city. San Francisco seem to be following suit with every other major creative hub, big or small, within the United States.

Well, if you ask AdAge, they'll tell you Minneapolis is all happening and stuff. But that piece reads more like a release than anything else. The problem isn't that there's a lack of creativity or people who can create solutions to business problems; it's that Joe and Jane still aren't buying stuff or if they are, it's not enough or fast enough. Result: Microsoft is cutting back even more and the SF office of McCann will suffer.

We don't know who or when, but starting tomorrow it's going to be a rough month inside that office.

More: "We Hear: McCann SF 50-60 Set For July"

Political correctness be damned, Tel Aviv-based McCann Digital has launched a new site for the Bacardi Breezer line which touts the perfect summer accessory in the form of an ugly girlfriend who helps "boost your hotness."

For those who can manage to quell their sensitivity for a few minutes, the site showcases four different ugly girlfriends, each serving as a sidekick to activities such as a pool party, a BBQ, a trip to the mall and a beach stroll.

The descriptions of each girlfriend can be pretty harsh, perhaps the handiwork of a somewhat sadistic copywriter. A beach stroll with "Sally" for example, reads: "Upgrade your trips to the beach with Sally-97 kilograms of femininity, strength and double chins. No tires can disguise the lumpy rolls decorating that body."

If you care to indulge the site even further, you can read "comments" from guys and girls (nice save with that one), check out their Facebook profiles and fill out an order form to get a free bottle of Bacardi Breezer.

Adding to the uneasiness is the never-ending house loop that was likely intended to enhance the site's summer vibe. Nice try. So, is this misogynistic? Funny? An epic fail? We'll let you decide.

Via: the formidable Copyranter

More: "We Hear: McCann SF 50-60 Set for July"

The layoffs at McCann SF, a result of lost Microsoft CRM business, continue. Last week the agency sent home around 25, and now we hear another 50-60 could potentially be let go next month.

Here's an interesting comment from our last piece: "As one of the laid off employees from the round that happened in February, I can tell you that what is sinking McCann and MRM is a late response to MSFT's repeated requests to address systemic operational issues, a change in senior management on the client side who had no loyalty to MWG, and 'too many cooks in the kitchen' syndrome exacerbated by MSFT's higly matrixed—and redundant—organization. Couple this with MWG's dropping the new business ball when the writing was on the wall last year, and the fact that MSFT can't truly take advantage of meaningful digital programs because their data systems are about 10 years behind the curve, and you have a recipe for disaster."

So there's that. The agency had no comment.

More: "20-30 Laid Off from MRM SF"

We've confirmed with a representative from MRM that the San Francisco office has undergone layoffs today, though we could not get a concrete number. In total we are hearing anywhere from 20-33 are going home without jobs due to the lost Microsoft CRM business.

The staff operates out of McCann Worldgroup's SF offices so don't be mistaken, these layoffs are only hurting the MRM staff. Before today there were 108 employees in the MRM office. Anywhere from 18-30% of staff were cut today.

More: "McCann SF & MRM SF Losing Microsoft Biz"

With JWT and Crispin crowding the Microsoft space, we wonder what's been going on with McCann, SF. A source tells us more business was lost Friday, but which piece is unclear.

"All the commercial work that was pitched last month [has been lost]," writes our source. "They are on the ropes with only 2 major MS parts still in play."

And if you recall, Microsoft pitches have been high McCann's priority list. Last month they agency brought in Paul Caiozzo, a CD from CPB. Hopefully for their sake he brought some ideas with him.

More: "McCann SF & MRM SF Losing Microsoft Biz"

McCann San Fran has hired a new creative director, Paul Caiozzo, who hails from Crispin Porter + Bogusky. Caiozzo will play SVP creative director beginning June 1.

What's most interesting about the hire is that the agency clearly has little work to do (enough work to keep the current staff, which was cut by 70 in February, busy).

Says a spy, "all anyone seems to be working on are new biz pitches and this Microsoft Mobile pitch, [so] spending big money on a new hire doesn't seem like the best way to be spending money."

Meh, fresh blood.

Some stuff about Caiozzo: He's worked on Burger King's Whopper Freakout, Whopper Virgins and Flame campaigns, Volkswagen the Alliance for Climate Protection and Jawbone. Before joining Crispin, he was with TAXI New York as a Sr AD the Amp'd Mobile launch.

This is maybe the creepiest press photo I've ever seen.

More: "McCann SF & MRM SF Losing Microsoft Biz"

McCann Worldgroup has been named the "Official Marketing Services Provider" by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), a company rep. informed AgencySpy today. McCann will spend the next three years (and about $20 million) representing the games.

We told you about this deal last week when the news broke that McCann beat out WPP, the "local" choice. Now it's official, so there you go. But McCann's London office will be handling the majority of the work, we're told.

In addition to being the games marketer, McCann is also a "Tier Three" partner. "McCann Worldgroup become London 2012's eighth Tier Three Provider and its 18th domestic commercial partner overall. This is the first time that marketing services has become a sponsorship category for an organising committee. The range of the contract includes advertising (including TV, press, radio, outdoor, online, and mobile), direct marketing and digital marketing."

The Sponsors
Tier One: adidas, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF Energy, Lloyds TSB and Nortel.

Tier Two: Adecco, Cadbury and Deloitte.

Tier Three (suppliers and providers): Airwave, Atkins, Boston Consulting Group, Crystal CG, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, McCann Worldgroup, Populous and Trident.

Worldwide Olympic Partners: Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos Origin, GE, McDonald's, Omega, Panasonic, Samsung and Visa.

Go world.

Image

More: "US Beats UK in Bid to Promote London Olympics"

Hewlett-Packard has selected Publicis Groupe (Modem and Geneva) to handle its personal-computers division across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Big win. They've stolen the account from McCann Erickson who did try to defend.

McCann is battling on all fronts these days, at least in the U.S. Zicam, the maker of cold remedies with an account $25M, is searching to replace McCann Erickson, Los Angeles. They are currently engaged in a battle for some Microsoft business despite being the "lead agency."

HP is already the biggest personal-computer maker worldwide, and now, has surpassed Dell in the US market Dell for the first time since 2001, according to research firm Gartner Inc. Dell is just slipping all over the place. Dell's research strategy clearly isn't helping the company, nor is its advertising.

More: McCann NY Did What?

While McCann has the title of "lead agency" on the Microsoft business. Right now, you are probably snickering into your morning coffee at the term considering the brand engages quite a few shops on its business these days: Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Razorfish and more recently, JWT. And those are just the ones above the board. Who knows who is doing little assignments here and there?

Microsoft has recently put these agencies in a dog pit to face off for the brand's nameless, faceless new mobile application. Our guess is that this mysterious piece of business is Windows Mobile 7 or The Windows Marketplace (the new app store for people running Windows OS on their mobile phone), since PR agencies are currently engaged in a pitch for those accounts. Let the games begin, but perhaps, McCann might want to consider this as a warning shot from the brand. According to Adweek, "Kevin Turner, Microsoft's chief operating officer who joined the company in August 2005, is not a proponent of a single agency partner and has pushed for bringing in other shops."

This reminds us of when McCann was forced to fight for project from their other long time parter, Intel, back in November. Just three months later, the entire account was moved to Venables, Bell and Partners. Stick and move McCann and keep your left up while you're at it.

More: From JWT To The Pond