This is (probably) the last piece we’re going to post about this whole Fallon shitter thing. Promise. If you missed Part One, Part Deux or the update about creatives splitting for BBH, then you can read all of them right here. However, Another Ex-Fallonite has some interesting thoughts on exactly why the shop is in the shitter:
“I agree with both of the previous comments. I also think that the Buchner brothers and Kerry Feuerman’s (pictured above) disastrous tenure as CD are symptoms of Fallon’s real problem: Their much-trumpeted culture of “loyalty” has crossed the line into a culture of blind nepotism at the expense of the agency.
Feuerman was best man at CCO Bill Westbrook’s wedding, which was apparently more important in the hiring process than the fact that he was totally unqualified for the job. Westbrook’s hack son is paid an inordinate day rate to “freelance” in the creative department while the FT employees are desperate for assignments. Westbrook himself is uninterested in trying to understand how the business has changed in the last 15 years (see the previous comment re: the interactive dept). It’s common knowledge at the agency that Pat’s inner circle – which includes people at various levels in all departments – is exempt from layoffs, regardless of their talent or work ethic.
It’s too bad that Fallon’s emphasis on loyalty, a welcome anomaly in this business, has ultimately become its undoing. If the Buchner brothers are the ones running the place into the ground, well, who’s responsible for keeping them around?”
Damn straight.
August 3, 2007 at 4:08 pm
I heard a story about a famous headhunter who contacted Feuerman shortly after he arrived at Fallon, regarding a talented CP+B art director moving back to Minneapolis. Feuerman’s response was, “I’m taking things in a different direction.” I guess we know now what direction that was.
August 3, 2007 at 4:37 pm
I completely agree with this. It’s just a really nevgative environment where politics decide everything. And all the wrong people have the power. Pat’s inner circle, including creatives at all levels and project management are more concerned with holding on to their political power than they are with making a good agency or doing what it takes to do good work.
In the past year and a half some of the most talented people in the business have been brought in and strangled by the politics. Most have now left, or been fired, after seeing that the situation is useless. But still the same talentless cronys decide who stays and goes. Better to get rid of all imposing threats to power I guess.
I do believe the place needs a thorough house cleaning before it can ever thrive again.
September 19, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Kerry Feuerman was most qualified for the position he held with Fallon, Minn. It is most unkind, to cast stones at those who tried to save a sinking ship.
It is what it is, just let it go at that.
December 4, 2007 at 1:59 pm
[...] again, is that Fallon hired and promoted the wrong people to replace those who left. There has been a lot of talk over who is most culpable, but the good news is that Fallon has finally made a good personnel [...]
January 9, 2008 at 7:21 pm
The ad world as we know it is changing faster then most can stand. New forms of media are attracting the target demographics away from conventional exposure places such as network tv and print ads. Where the older figureheads are used to a more traditional eye catching format, I can say that Kerry Feuerman is an accepting mind to this change and wants to embrace it. Your slander frankly just sounds like jealousy . Get a life. In fact, why don’t you get a real job instead of hiding behind a computer . Let’s see your brilliant approach to the army campaign with out the use of machismo redneck metal music and video games = real life killing opportunities .. Oh wait, we never will because YOU arent taken seriously . DICK
January 12, 2008 at 1:53 am
Um, go talk to people who worked a Burnett. Fueurmen didn’t DO anything for army, except lose the account.
Sorry kid, I know you love your daddy, but he’s not a good creative director.
January 20, 2008 at 1:03 am
He didn’t do anything for Army because Army didn’t want to change their tunnel visioned image and they are suffering due to that. Innovation requires far more brain power and risk then what you seem obtain. Lemme guess, you guys are just “Yes men” right?
In that case… Hey, I need a PA …. I take my coffee with 2 sugars and my suit needs to be picked up at the dry cleaner. Thanks!
January 26, 2008 at 5:56 pm
This is nothing but a hit piece on a great creative director who suffered himself from the misfortunes of politics. Sometimes the blogosphere is a great place that keeps our worthless starry eyed interested in nothing media in check.
And sometimes the blogosphere is a collection of small minded know nothings who sling shit on good people from the comfort of their dingy apartments.
Take a look at the absolute shit that the Army is doing right now. “There’s strong and then there’s Army Strong.” Yeah I suppose that would be something to brag about. The Army left Burnett because no one wants to fight in this concocted war. And lowering the hurdle to accession way down to felons and drug addicts and promises of new campaigns isn’t filling their numberss either. Blaming that fiasco on Feuerman is not just inaccurate, it’s what the Marines call being a Cheese Dick.
January 29, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Seriously, Feuerman did NOTHING for army. Good or bad. He got there, they left. So it’s time to stop bringing it up. If anything, the case can be made that he drove them away, but we don’t have to go there.
Feuerman was simply not a good CD. I’m sorry to offend whoever is defending him.
He was not an asshole or anything. He just wasn’t a good CD. He would make a pretty decent account guy.
He had bad creative judgment. Poor management skills. And he wasn’t that great of a presenter.
He was over his head and it showed.
Either you’re kerry or related to kerry. ‘Cause no one who’s worked with him would consider him innovative.
February 10, 2008 at 6:19 am
Well apparently Whome? must work for the GOP. This whole piece is nothing but an anonymous swift-boating.
I worked with Kerry twice and he was awesome. Great manager, great creative director. Period.
Facts are facts. Leave the Gossip to Fox News.
February 16, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Funny stuff, BB.
Either you’re a Feuerman or a Westbrook. I’m actually going with you being a Westbrook.
I admire your loyalty. But the real fact is that he was not a good CD. You can call names or anything else, but that won’t change.
March 4, 2008 at 2:09 am
I have worked with Kerry on several occasions. It is simple Kerry is an “Out of the Box” creative thinker some people are ready for that some arent. I believe it is somthing to be embraced.