TBWA/Chiat Day

Our previous post about Duncan Milner's promotion to CCO at TBWA\Media Arts Lab led some commenters to surmise that Lee Clow was "stepping down" or "quietly stepping away."

As a result, Clow sent a letter to staffers which we've obtained where he says he's "not going anywhere", adding "look at how the blogosphere decided to make it a conversation about me." First off, we didn't make it about him; we believe we reported a story accurately that focused on Milner. Second, we don't speak for our commenters and vice versa, so let's keep it at that. Anyways, if you care to read his brief internal opus, it's after the jump.

More: "We Hear: Lee Clow's Had Enough"

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Boards is reporting that TBWA\Media Arts Lab ECD Duncan Milner has officially taken over for Lee Clow as Chief Creative Officer of MAL (TBWA has confirmed this to us as well). According to the report, Milner, who's been with TBWA for 18 years and most recently led the creative on Apple, was actually promoted internally last month (though he has actually been listed on the credits of the most recent Apple spots as CCO). Clow meanwhile will remain Chairman of TBWA\Media Arts Lab.

More: "We Hear: Lee Clow's Had Enough"

John Hunt is TBWA's Worldwide Creative Director and wouldn't you know it — he's written a book called "The Art of the Idea" — which includes things like quotes about Nelson Mandela (sunrise, sunset) and quips about what it means to have ideas.

And there's a party for the launch, too! Interestingly, I've received the invite a few times, but never from the luminaries at TBWA, always from some smart person who was invited to go and thought I'd like to know about it. TBWA doesn't like me, so they play the cold shoulder game. Well, now let's play the, "is Matt going to show up and make it awkward for everyone" game. I'm reigning champ, bitches.

Matt: "BBDO and TBWA Swap Junk Food for Cat Food"

It seems that we're never in short supply of TBWA drama lately. As an addendum to this morning's news of Jason Nichols and (possibly) Joe Shands' exits, the latest scoop from Chiat LA-la-land is that Lee Clow himself is now stepping in to sort out the Nissan/Infiniti account, leaving GCD Kerry Feuerman "relegated to retail style ads for Nissan" according to tipsters.

We're hearing that Clow is intent on "cleaning up the lackluster work of the GCD and mass exodus of top Nissan creatives because of lack of confidence." Apparently the Nissan and Infiniti accounts are "down to only 6 creatives" (though we're not sure if that means each or combined). Since it seems AgencySpy and Chiat aren't on speaking terms these days, verification of this is a bit tricky. If you have more info, feel free to hit us up at agencyspy at gmail dot com.

More: "Adweek Gets the TBWA Layoff Story, A Week Later"

Just five months after joining Chiat LA as interactive CD on Pepsi, sources have confirmed that Jason Nichols has left the agency, continuing the quick turnover trend that's seemingly plagued the agency throughout this year.

Nichols, who worked as a copy director at R/GA on Nike and Nokia prior to joining Chiat, is rumored to be "headed to Austin to start his own shop" according to a tipster--though that is still unsubstantiated. In addition, we're hearing that Nichols quit the same time as another Pepsi CD, Joe Shands.

More: "Goodby Alum Will Hammond Joins Chiat LA as CD"

Former Goodby ACD Will Hammond is heading to Los Angeles to join TBWA\Chiat\Day, where he will serve as creative director on Visa.

Prior to Goodby, Hammond also held stints at DDB Canada, Ogilvy Johannesburg and Saatchi & Saatchi Johannesburg. Joining him on the Visa account at Chiat will be AKQA alum Shaun Rance, who will serve as interaction designer.

Chiat LA also promoted Dana Markee and Xanthe Hohalek to ACDs with the former set to work on Visa as well while the latter will focus on Pepsi.

More: "Chiat LA Promotes Dan Goldstein to Executive Director of Planning"

Let's take a moment to make a brief point to you fine people. It's about the TBWA\Chiat\Day New York layoffs that went down a week ago today.

On September 17 (aka last Thursday), a source from TBWA told us that up to 20 were let go. We contacted the agency to confirm/deny, and got no response.

That wasn't surprising, since the agency's PR team hasn't so much as made a peep to us since, like, July. But now AdWeek has their piece up (did I mention it's been a week?) and there is even a quote (and an allusion to a quote, too) from Jamie Gallo.

Apparently it's best to wait these things out — let the dust settle and then stir it up again. Chiat could have gotten this story out of the way a week ago, but now here it is again a week later for the entire industry to see.

For the record, we made multiple attempts to reach Chiat regarding this story. Now, there's no rule stating an email/phone call must be returned. But this is some seriously wacky PR strategy, no?

Think of it this way: had Chiat answered my emails, I would have published their comment and whatever details were pertinent, thus leaving AdWeek without "new", confirmed details. Note that AdWeek reports 15-20 staff were let go, and we had heard that about 20 were let go. Had we been able to officially confirm this with the agency, AdWeek might not have run their piece a week later, because the story is more than dead.

Image via Adland

More: "We Hear: Layoffs at TBWA\Chiat\Day NY and Leo Burnett Chicago"

Deaf Awareness Week has borrowed an idea from TBWA\Chiat\Day for their campaign highlighting the dangers of playing your Mp3s too loud. Apparently it's for the National Foundation for the Deaf, a New Zealand organization.

TBWA did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but being that this is for a good cause and all our guess is they don't mind terribly. The ad reads: "Mp3 players do permanent damage to young ears. Check your volume levels at saveyourhearing.org.nz."

Via CampaignBrief

More: "Hey BBDO, Creative Commandment #7 Is: Thou Shall Not Steal From Spike Jonze"

As we shake off our case of the Mondays, why not ease into the work week with some lighthearted fare? The Dog Whisperer himself Cesar Millan dedicated an entire episode of his NatGeo show last Friday to the "dog friendly" environs of TBWA\Chiat\Day LA. Here, the man with the inherent ability to pow-pow with pups offered his services to project manager Alice Pavlisko, whose dog Mafia is a tad antisocial as well as print producer Michael Pourmohsen, whose Pinscher/Chihuahua mix Jack hates other dogs.

Taped earlier this summer, the cute piece in retrospect unfortunately serves as little more than a fluffy veil over an agency that was about to experience quite the shitstorm.

More: "TBWA\Chiat\Day's Robert Harwood-Matthews Heads to PHD West"

Just six months after taking over the Infiniti global business at TBWA\Chiat\Day LA (as Global Managing Director), former TBWA\Manchester CEO Robert Harwood-Matthews has left the agency for the Executive Vice President role at PHD West, where he'll also be Managing Director of its Los Angeles and San Francisco offices.

Yesterday we published an article requesting PHD or Chiat call us to confirm or deny this story. We didn't mention the subject in the article, but a PHD representative did get back to us and confirmed the move.

Harwood-Matthews is the fourth prominent employee to leave Chiat in recent months. Hashem Bajwa left after 6 weeks, Al Kelly after 3 months and Julie Liss went to Hal Riney.

Though managing west coast operations is no small leap, the move calls into question TBWA's relationship with Nissan/Infiniti. When their top player on that account moves off, can the agency hold it together? Now, losing one person does not guarantee (or imply) a client is soon to leave as well. But given the rumblings on that subject, it's a safe question to ask.

As you know, TBWA did not respond to requests for comment.

More: "TBWA\Chiat\Day LA Promotes Dan Goldstein to Executive Director of Planning"