• by Richard Whitman , Columnist, January 11, 2015

You do know that when a new CMO steps in at one of your client accounts, it's time to dust off the resume and look for a new gig, right? If you don't already know this, here's a booster shot for you in the form of a comment on an AgencySpy story about apparent layoffs at Lowe Campbell Ewald Chicago in the wake of the agency's loss of the Cadillac business.

The anonymous (yeah, they're all anonymous over there -- no one has the guts to stand behind their commentary) commenter writes: "Real shitty for CE since they didn't even get to do much, but you gotta remember, a new CMO almost ALWAYS means new agency. You guys had to have seen this coming. Let me guess, he gave you the same ol' speech; 'I'm not like other CMOs guys! I know how pointless it is to rotate through agencies every few years!' Yeah don't ever believe that shit. You start interviewing elsewhere ASAP the minute you hear 'new CMO' so by the time that fucker on-boards you off-board with your middle finger in the air. Don't ever be deceived into being loyal in this business -- to an agency or to a client. The axe will find your neck eventually. You gotta stay a swiftly moving target."

With all the Cadillac shenanigans that have gone on over the past year, my advice to everyone in the ad business is to steer clear of the Cadillac account in any way you can. Some say steer clear of GM entirely but let's take this one step at a time. Although volatile is an understatement in this case. Run. Do not walk to the nearest exit.