• by OMMA Magazine Writers , January 2, 2008

Welcome to the Jungle

Super Spy Reports

When we asked mediabistro.com's Agency Spy to spend some time lurking around water coolers, trolling the back alleys and help us compile a list of likely candidates for a Dead Pool (a list of agencies with odds as to who might kick the bucket first), we thought it would be a lot easier than it turned out to be. Turns out most agencies aren't ready for the defibrillator just yet. The Super Spy turned up some dirt and dishes it here. Also at www.mediabistro.com/agencyspy.

Agency.com Despite some recent awards and the win of the LG account, Agency.com is barely keeping afloat. The shop closed its Dallas office last month due to a lack of business and former Agency.com CEO Don Scales, now iCrossing's president, is busy poaching their top talent. Chan Suh is back in the driver's seat, but can he save his agency? Odds: 2 to 1

Beyond Interactive Founder Nick Pahade left the agency almost three years ago to head up Publicis' Denuo and perhaps, he should have stuck around. An ethos of laissez-faire appears to have seeped into the culture of Beyond. The company's Web site is offering press releases from 2005 for heaven's sake. And all agencies are notorious for paying their vendors late, but Beyond Interactive has acquired a particularly nasty rep among production houses and freelancers. Odds: 5 to 1

MRM Worldwide Yawn. Their work is passable, but nothing coming out of that shop is going to blow your digital socks off. Rumors are, this agency is squashing some of its best creative talent. They're sort of like the digital equivalent of Grey. Both agencies could have the slogan, "Don't rock the boat." We're not saying the MRM is going to sink anytime soon, but boy... that place is a cipher. Creative talent may cut their teeth there, but they won't stay and play. Odds:11 to 2

G2 Speaking of Grey - G2 is suffering. Lay offs continue as the shop looks to bring Refinery into the fold. Meanwhile, creatives are bailing like there is an iceberg ahead. While they may have some wonderful folk toiling away in the mines, John Paulson's revamp is costing the shop major morale points. Meanwhile, WPP is busy acquiring as many digital shops as it can from 24/7 Real Media to Blast Radius and Quasar Media. So, where does that leave G2 in the overall picture? In a constant state of integration as more shops get tacked on? Or ready to be folded into a new agency? Odds: 3 to 1

R/GA We've heard about the warring factions battling it out for control within the shop. We've heard about the departure of two heads of production. And, we've heard that Nick Law's new laws aren't going to go over so well. Plus, R/GA gets a ton of business fed to them from the struggling McCann. If McCann falters, which everyone knows they are, R/GA suffers. There's no doubt the agency is filled with talented creatives who do beautiful work (see Nike). However, with digital demand gearing up, the agency will surely be suffering without strong sea legs and a masterful captain. Odds: 16 to 1

Please note: No agencies were harmed in the making of this list. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of OMMA's editors, but they'll surely entertain your hate mail and opinions on who was missed. Vote on your choice for the first to expire and weigh in at mediapost.com/deadpool .