Comments on: What’s The Upside Of Working For Grey? http://agencyspy.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/whats-the-upside-of-working-for-grey/ lurking around the watercooler Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:15:56 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Ex NYer http://agencyspy.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/whats-the-upside-of-working-for-grey/#comment-10702 Ex NYer Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:50:14 +0000 http://agencyspy.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/whats-the-upside-of-working-for-grey/#comment-10702 I worked at Grey for 6 years in the 90's. I'm one of those folks who left and came back. I have to say, I really liked it there! Even though Meyer was a tyrant who scared the hell out of everyone, Grey was big on comraderie. And there were financial rewards as well: raises, bonuses, and the SMIP plan for more senior folks. It was possible to have a good, solid career there working on good, solid brands. Was Grey the most creative of agencies? No. But did we ALL try to do great creative? Of course! There were only a few of the real "evil" people clawing there way to the top. But guess what? There are people like that in every agency, hell in every company! It wasn't necessary to be that way to succeed at Grey. Grey hired very smart people, and tried to give us the tools we needed to make our clients successful. Our opinions actually were solicited occasionally, and I never felt disrespected there. I worked for 2 different EVPs and both really tried to foster a group spirit. My big mistake was actually leaving Grey the second time. It's totally changed now, and I won't go back. I'll never work for a WPP agency - all Sorrell cares about is dollars/euros NOT advertising. I'll always think of Grey as a terrific place to work, with good people, many of whom I still keep in touch with. I worked at Grey for 6 years in the 90’s. I’m one of those folks who left and came back. I have to say, I really liked it there! Even though Meyer was a tyrant who scared the hell out of everyone, Grey was big on comraderie. And there were financial rewards as well: raises, bonuses, and the SMIP plan for more senior folks. It was possible to have a good, solid career there working on good, solid brands.

Was Grey the most creative of agencies? No. But did we ALL try to do great creative? Of course!

There were only a few of the real “evil” people clawing there way to the top. But guess what? There are people like that in every agency, hell in every company! It wasn’t necessary to be that way to succeed at Grey.

Grey hired very smart people, and tried to give us the tools we needed to make our clients successful. Our opinions actually were solicited occasionally, and I never felt disrespected there. I worked for 2 different EVPs and both really tried to foster a group spirit.

My big mistake was actually leaving Grey the second time. It’s totally changed now, and I won’t go back. I’ll never work for a WPP agency – all Sorrell cares about is dollars/euros NOT advertising.

I’ll always think of Grey as a terrific place to work, with good people, many of whom I still keep in touch with.

]]> By: White Cholocate http://agencyspy.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/whats-the-upside-of-working-for-grey/#comment-10648 White Cholocate Sat, 01 Mar 2008 08:30:31 +0000 http://agencyspy.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/whats-the-upside-of-working-for-grey/#comment-10648 I worked at G2 few years ago. I remember having the most crazy fantastic moments with possibly the most insane group of people there. Everybody had fun except the few who didn't fit in and ultimately chose to leave. I was 100% sure that there was no other agencies with culture and ambience that can match up to G2's. It was unbelievably great. Now the new era has begun w/ new exec level. ppl of G2 and Grey all are mixed up and stuck between the chaotic internal politics in the upper level. It's sad to see a corp.culture so hard to find evaporate. the old crew is leaving the place one by one, and i must say I can't blame them. I worked at G2 few years ago. I remember having the most crazy fantastic moments with possibly the most insane group of people there. Everybody had fun except the few who didn’t fit in and ultimately chose to leave. I was 100% sure that there was no other agencies with culture and ambience that can match up to G2’s. It was unbelievably great.
Now the new era has begun w/ new exec level. ppl of G2 and Grey all are mixed up and stuck between the chaotic internal politics in the upper level. It’s sad to see a corp.culture so hard to find evaporate. the old crew is leaving the place one by one, and i must say I can’t blame them.

]]> By: Markie Post http://agencyspy.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/whats-the-upside-of-working-for-grey/#comment-5173 Markie Post Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:45:15 +0000 http://agencyspy.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/whats-the-upside-of-working-for-grey/#comment-5173 I worked at Grey a few years ago and loved it! The people are amazing. Sadly it isn't a very creative agency but all and all its a good place to be. I worked at Grey a few years ago and loved it! The people are amazing. Sadly it isn’t a very creative agency but all and all its a good place to be.

]]> By: Gail Burnip http://agencyspy.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/whats-the-upside-of-working-for-grey/#comment-3110 Gail Burnip Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:48:23 +0000 http://agencyspy.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/whats-the-upside-of-working-for-grey/#comment-3110 I worked at Grey Advertising in New York during the seventies. I met some fantastic people; we all worked hard and there was a great vibe about the place. I have no idea what it's like today but I loved it then. I worked at Grey Advertising in New York during the seventies. I met some fantastic people; we all worked hard and there was a great vibe about the place. I have no idea what it’s like today but I loved it then.

]]> By: LAM http://agencyspy.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/whats-the-upside-of-working-for-grey/#comment-3109 LAM Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:38:58 +0000 http://agencyspy.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/whats-the-upside-of-working-for-grey/#comment-3109 Grey in NO WAY is as bad as working at Draft/FCB. In the first place, Ed Meyer and his henchmen are totally gone and the culture has changed. Nevertheless, Meyer knew how to run an ad agency and was second to none in the area of client service. That is NOT something that could be said about the thugs at Draft/FCB. The Grey management has changed completely over the past couple of years, it's FAR less oppressive AND there still are some smart people remaining there. Perhaps some of the new hires are smart, too...that I wouldn't know...Grey was always known for hiring smart people - albeit it did house more evil people than perhaps necessary, but, for the most part the evil ones really are truly gone! I wholeheartedly support George's remark: The upside of working for Grey is knowing it couldn't be as bad as....Draft/FCB" He's right, trust me, it isn't!!! Grey in NO WAY is as bad as working at Draft/FCB. In the first place, Ed Meyer and his henchmen are totally gone and the culture has changed. Nevertheless, Meyer knew how to run an ad agency and was second to none in the area of client service. That is NOT something that could be said about the thugs at Draft/FCB. The Grey management has changed completely over the past couple of years, it’s FAR less oppressive AND there still are some smart people remaining there. Perhaps some of the new hires are smart, too…that I wouldn’t know…Grey was always known for hiring smart people – albeit it did house more evil people than perhaps necessary, but, for the most part the evil ones really are truly gone! I wholeheartedly support George’s remark: The upside of working for Grey is knowing it couldn’t be as bad as….Draft/FCB” He’s right, trust me, it isn’t!!!

]]> By: 2000 Spy http://agencyspy.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/whats-the-upside-of-working-for-grey/#comment-3106 2000 Spy Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:50:21 +0000 http://agencyspy.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/whats-the-upside-of-working-for-grey/#comment-3106 I worked at GREY (777 third) around late 90's to early 00's. This was before all the dark side choas. Before Ed Meyer left, before the Colorwheel scandal, Before the Dot com bubble burst, etc... As one of the unnamed soldiers working in the bowls of the ship, at least back in 2000, it still was like an episode of 'Ugly Betty' with people clawing and posturing to get into Director level+ positions. I worked at GREY (777 third) around late 90’s to early 00’s. This was before all the dark side choas. Before Ed Meyer left, before the Colorwheel scandal, Before the Dot com bubble burst, etc…

As one of the unnamed soldiers working in the bowls of the ship, at least back in 2000, it still was like an episode of ‘Ugly Betty’ with people clawing and posturing to get into Director level+ positions.

]]> By: George Parker, Boise, ID http://agencyspy.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/whats-the-upside-of-working-for-grey/#comment-3067 George Parker, Boise, ID Tue, 02 Oct 2007 21:36:10 +0000 http://agencyspy.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/whats-the-upside-of-working-for-grey/#comment-3067 The upside of working for Grey is knowing it couldn't be as bad as working for fucking Draft/FCB! Cheers/George The upside of working for Grey is knowing it couldn’t be as bad as working for fucking Draft/FCB!
Cheers/George

]]> By: Anonymous http://agencyspy.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/whats-the-upside-of-working-for-grey/#comment-2966 Anonymous Sun, 30 Sep 2007 16:23:26 +0000 http://agencyspy.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/whats-the-upside-of-working-for-grey/#comment-2966 While I agree with the gist of your post, not sure you can lump G2 and Grey together. They're seperate agencies in seperate buildings with different clients. Just share the letter "G" At places where people aren't all clawing each other to get ahead, the underlings tend to like each other because they're not backstabbing each other. While I agree with the gist of your post, not sure you can lump G2 and Grey together. They’re seperate agencies in seperate buildings with different clients. Just share the letter “G”

At places where people aren’t all clawing each other to get ahead, the underlings tend to like each other because they’re not backstabbing each other.

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