Tribal DDB

A handful of tips streamed into the 'Spy line this week claiming that Tribal DDB Dallas was cutting staff (again), with rumors ranging from Tribal "axing a ton of people" to "laying off about 50% of the office." While the agency called the latter comment "quite an exaggeration," they nevertheless confirmed to us that there were indeed cuts and offered this statement:

"Given the economic conditions and the general softening in marketing budgets, today Tribal DDB Dallas had to make the difficult decision to eliminate some positions in the agency. We are now better aligned with client needs but regret this necessary step. Meanwhile, Tribal DDB is expanding into new geographies such as Argentina and Turkey and is committed to being one of the world's largest and most powerful digital networks."

While sources are telling us that the number is anywhere from less than 30 all the way to 40, the news comes just two months after the Dallas office let a few folks go and reorganized the creative department in the process.

As a sad footnote, here's a Facebook update from one of those that got the boot:

More: "We Hear: Mike Follett/Others Depart from Tribal NY"

Sources tell us Tribal NY's Director of Strategic Planning Mike Follett has resigned.

Apparently, Follett was supposed to go on vacation this week but then he packed up his office last Friday. He came to the agency in August, 2007, as part of Tribal Worldwide's Global Exchange Program.

The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Three other employees have left the New York agency recently as well. An account supervisor and a management superviser for Neutrogena and a project manager.

More: "Tribal DDB Dallas Changes, Et Cetera"

Proximity BBDO has, following an RFP from State Farm, won their business for the $50 Million Lb. Challenge — a contest that aims to reduce obesity in the US.

The "Challenge" is sponsored by State Farm, a client that calls Tribal DDB Chicago home. We reached out to the agency to ask if the State Farm, which is not represented on their Web site (unless we just suck at looking), is moving on. Patently untrue, we're told, SF is still with TDDB.

Fine fine. A State Farm representative was unable to track down the info we needed ie a "yes" or "no" as to whether or not they're looking for another agency. More on that tomorrow.

An interesting note though, is that AdAge wrote a story that begins like this (we don't have a subscription, so who knows what else is there), "State Farm is reassessing how it compensates its advertising and marketing-services agencies. It wasn't immediately clear whether the insurer is looking to slash fees; adopt the sort of value-based model lately championed by Coke; or simply to bring its practices closer in line with contemporary norms. ..." That was published July 1, 2009.

And then back in October 2007 we wrote, "Speculation is rampant that State Farm is about to go into review. Meanwhile, DDB said that the insurance company knew all about the personnel changes and that the account is safe. Hmm..." That was in response to the departures of Rick Korzeniowski Dave Kessler, the top execs on the account at the time.

It's all confusing for now but we will have more for you on this tomorrow.

CORRECTION: The headline earlier read, "Proximity BBDO Nabs $50 Million Pound Challenge". We're talking lbs. not British currency and a misplaced dollar sign. If your comment disappeared, it's due to the headline correction.

More: "Tribal DDB Dallas, San Francisco, Cut Jobs"

Watch the clip above, for Philips' new 21:9 cinematic TV screen. The spot was made by Tribal DDB Amsterdam, which commissioned Stink Digital for the coolness. The project was directed by Adam Berg and well, you should just click play. It's freakin' sweet.

From Stink Digital:

"Created entirely by Stink Digital, this new interactive campaign promotes Philips latest entrant into the television market, the CINEMA 21:9. Since the televisions 21:9 frame lends itself so readily to film, our friends at Tribal DDB, Amsterdam commissioned us to create a piece of filmed content that could hold its own with Hollywoods best. Director Adam Berg responded with an idea for an epic frozen moment cops and robbers shootout sequence that included clowns, explosions, a decimated hospital, and plenty of broken glass and bullet casings.

This epic film is the centrepiece of the project. On its own, it clocks in at a (totally coincidental) two minutes and 19 seconds, but Berg conceived it to work as an endless loop. Visitors to the microsite therefore have the option to spin through the films single take shot repeatedly, to stop on a specific frame, or to watch it at the preordained speed. The film also contains embedded hotspots, which, when triggered, transport the viewer seamlessly from the heavily posted film to a behind-the-scenes version of the same shot. This constant moving between two layers of reality proved one of the projects biggest and most ambitious production challenges. Other details of the online execution play off the cinematic theme; the microsites loader doubles as a credit sequence, while rich media takeover banners drive traffic to the site by teasing viewers with an original Carousel trailer. All aspects of the production, from the film shoot to web design and development, were conducted by Stink Digital."

Via

More: "Rebounding Was Never So Slutty, Skankerrific"

DDB West (Seattle) and Activision are about to part ways. But the shop still wants to do stuff in that ever-mysterious gaming market where most everything is about the white folk despite the fact that all-folk love the virtual space. That's another tale. Anyway, since Activision is going elsewhere (wouldn't you like to know where?) DDB has to find another suitor. They're hoping to find one at the speed-date-athon that is MI6 Conference, which starts today in big bad San Fran.

Um, you guys are total sluts! They even created this whole rebound project Web site where the team talks about how horny they are.

An agency rep wrote us to talk about the shop's new found sluttiness. "As you can see — our CDs and producers and account planners and even our CEO — we're all looking for one night stands, cheap thrills, and some get-your-freak-on naughty fun."

Look, it's really fun to go whoring it up after you've been dumped or whatever, but in the end all your friends (and eventually your parents aka Worldwide) are one by one going to tell you that you have to get your shit together. Stop drinking so dang much, get off the Craigslist M4W, W4W, W4M etc pages and maybe give eHarmony a shot. Or porn; we hear they have it on the inter Webs now.

More: "Paul Gunning Takes Liz Ross' Place At Tribal DDB"

After stepping down just a few days ago, it has been announced that Liz Ross'duties will be taken over by Tribal DDB's CEO Paul Gunning with the goal of getting Tribal's four offices on the same page. Adweek has this quote:

"Ross said she was not the right fit for a focus on cost savings and inter-office operations and making decisions such as whether only one location should have a center of excellence in a digital practice area."

Really? Then, um... why would you ever have been President of U.S. Operations of a multi-shop agency? Isn't that kind of the job description along with pushing for creativity and big ideas? Well, good she knows when to fold 'em.

More: Digitas NY Picks Up Tom Tafuto to Lead Creative Team

AgencySpy has learned that former Tribal DDB Dallas creative Tom Tafuto has joined up with Digitas NY, where he's slated to lead the creative department. We're hearing he'll pick up a few projects, including Samsung.

Tafuto joined the Tribal DDB Dallas team in summer 2007 and semi-quietly left a few months ago. This is a tumultuous time at Tribal DDB friends, troubling and tough.

More: "Liz Ross Bails On Tribal DDB"

Liz Ross has resigned as Tribal DDB's president of U.S. operations and global chief marketing officer. She's been in her role since last June, but told AdAge that it was "time to move on", though the word on the street is that she was let go, but isn't that always the word on the street? No word on who, when or if her position will be filled.

Tribal DDB has seen a shift in upper level creative management as of late. Changes have been taking place in Chicago, Dallas and London. Can't wait to see what happens next.

More: Adweek's Digital Reports Cards Have Landed

You know the drill... Each year, Adweek assigns a grade to advertising agencies of note. It's kind of like Bloomberg's grading system for the New York Public Schools. This year, the magazine cut their list from 10 agencies to just 8. They arrived at their final mark by considering several factors: "global revenue percentage gain (taking into account the size of the shop), revenue/staff ratio and how well a shop did at accelerating revenue growth faster than staff expansion." The shops were also graded on their management practices, creativity, strategy and their use of social networks, mobile and smart use of technology tools. Here's the final report card:

AKQA: B+

TRIBAL DDB: B-

More: TBWA And CP+B Fight It Out For #24

ECD Kevin Flatt has been out at Tribal DDB Chicago since the holidays. Taking his place is David Hernandez who will also act as Managing Director. Hernandez comes from OgilvyOne. You may remember him as the founder of boutique shop, The Royal Order of Experience Design, that was all the rage awhile back.

Don't know much else about the dude other than his Linkedin photo above is just a little too cult-like for me. Come on... he kind of looks like he should be leading people into the ninth dimension with crystals and fruit or something. It's a little Heaven's Gate-ish, know what I mean? In any case, congrats to David.

Now, all Tribal has to do is lock down ECD's for London and Dallas.

More: Manicuring the Wood with Brian Callen