Commentary

Leo Burnett, DDB Could Lose McDonald's

Leo Burnett and DDB are under the gun this week as McDonald's CEO Don Thompson, at an investors meeting last week, said the agencies need to up their game and that he may reach out to other shops. In October the chain experienced its first sales loss in nine years. Laying the losses at the feet of Leo Burnett and DDB, Janney analyst Mark Kalinowski said  after last week's meeting, "We believe that some of the TV ads that have aired in recent quarters in the U.S. have not resonated as well with McDonald's customer base as the company would like to see. While this is not the only challenge McDonald's faces in the U.S., it is one of them, and to combat it there have been some internal personnel changes. We would also not rule out the possibility of ad-agency changes at some point." That's it. Blame the agency. Use them as a scape goat. Hmm, perhaps this whole Atkins, Paleo, Cross Fit thing is catching on with the masses and everyone is finally seeing McDonald's for what it is--the purveyor of processed crap that's making America fat. Oh yes, we know. No one's forcing anyone to eat at McDonald's. But before McDonald's existed, you can't really argue with the fact that people were healthier. Of course everyone was a farmer, walked everywhere and didn't sit on their fat asses all day long playing video games while downing a couple of Big Macs with a 32 ounce Coke...which they bought at McDonald's.

Stop the presses! Do not click that Publish button! Good God, do we have news for you! We just received a press release announcing "a very strategic advertising agency with a global reach" called Eye to Ad Media has...wait for it...announced they will now offer their clients and prospects...wait for it....wait for it...hold your breath...domain name registration services and web hosting! Did you hear that? Domain name registration and web hosting? My God, we've never heard of this before! This is incredibly exciting. This has to be some kind of penultimate watershed moment for the ad business! But wait, there's more. Eye to Ad Media promises an unheard of 99.9% uptime. We have absolutely never heard such a bold offer before! Seriously. Everyone stop what they're doing right now and hand you're entire online advertising portfolio over to Eye to Ad Media. Because as the press release gushes, "Improper management of advertising can be a company killer." A company killer, people! 

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Once again, "rumors are swirling" about Martin Sorrell's need to be top dog in Adland. Sorrel, along with Havas' David Jones and other holding company big wigs have had nothing complimentary to say about the Publicis Omnicom merger. Even though most hope the merger  will be a train wreck, secretly, they wish they were part of it. Which, of course, is why these post-Publicis Omnicom Groupe merger rumors have such long, sexy legs. The latest rumor has WPP acquiring Interpublic so, once again, Martin Sorrell can preside over the largest advertising holding company in the world. And don't think for a minute Sorrell isn't going to do everything he can to become top dog again.

Remember the whole Lipman debacle where the agency shut its doors following allegations of financial shenanigans? Well the chips are beginning to fall for those who previously worked for the agency. Melatan Riden, who was a designer at Lipman has landed a new gig with TBWA\Chiat\Day New York as Design Director, a newly created position within the agency. Of Riden's joining the agency, TBWA\Chiat\Day New York Creative Director Matt Ian said. “Not only is Mel’s breadth of work astounding but her craft is at a next-level. She will push the quality of branding design for TBWA\Chiat\Day New York and our clients.” We wish you well, Mel. 

2 comments about "Leo Burnett, DDB Could Lose McDonald's".
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  1. Thomas Siebert from BENEVOLENT PROPAGANDA, November 19, 2013 at 1:43 p.m.

    I stopped at a 7-11 to get gas last week and two small, soft, plump children were in there loading up on massive Big Gulps that were about the size of their head. I wanted to say something to their parent, but of course I didn't.

  2. Michael Adler from Looking, November 19, 2013 at 1:44 p.m.

    I have been reading this on and off for the past few weeks and just noticed that the name of the guy doing the writing is Dick Whitman. Now if you watched Mad Men you'll get the reference. I guess with the highly sarcastic / witty material this guys pumps out daily he needs a nom de guerre.

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