• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, March 13, 2018

A group of senior women advertising agency executives, including DDB CEO Wendy Clark, Kristen Cavallo, CEO The Martin Agency and more than 170 others, has launched a partnership with the women’s advocacy and anti-harassment organization timesupnow.com. 

The formal launch of the new group, Times Up Advertising, was announced Monday. 

“Our mission is to drive new policies, practices, decisions and tangible actions that result in a more balanced, diverse and accountable leadership; address workplace discrimination, harassment and abuse; and create equitable and safe cultures within our agencies,” the group states on its website. 

“As leaders, it’s on us to foster a workplace where people are challenged but still respected.

Sexual harassment is not OK. Never. No exceptions. No amount of talent, missed cues, or being great in the room unchecks the No Sexual Harassment box.” 

The group is planning to hold regional meetings on May 14 in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Toronto, to gather input from the broader industry. “We will also create an online forum for reach beyond major cities. Our goal is real change. The best first step in this process is talking face to face with you.” 

The formation of the group follows the disclosure of dozens of cases of sexual harassment and other misconduct against (mostly) women in a variety of fields, most notably entertainment, but also advertising and other sectors. 

More on the new initiative can be found here.