• Ad Age, Monday, April 23, 2007 10:15 AM

Chili's has said goodbye to a top marketing exec and should soon announce it has also parted ways with GSD&M on its $125 million account. Chili's has been through a rough sales patch, recently reporting the sixth consecutive month of decline. Gone is Ken Thewes and insiders say GSD&M will be right on his heels.

While some blame Chili's results on the weather, most of the evidence points to segment declines, and Chili's relative lack of promotion, despite a new menu in January. The company spent diddly on ads in January and February, but went back on air last month with new spots touting "fire-grilled" specials.

"They're suffering from the whole segment malaise," said Bob Goldin, exec vice president at industry consultant Technomic. "Consumers seem to have lost interest in the [casual dining] segment. It may be too little, too late."

Read the whole story at Ad Age »