Addendum: Told You So: Idea City Steals A New Creative From Crispin
February 19, 2008
We just received two great comments about our recent post about Mark Taylor joining GSD&M that we had to create a separate entry. Enjoy and discuss.
“Was he actually a CD at Crispin, or an ACD? There seems to be some discrepency. Either way, he’s got the chops, but does he have the stomach? It remains to be seen how he’ll be accpted by the 8 Group Creative Directors who’ve been at GSD&M an average of 10 years. They’re all guys, all older than Taylor and mostly none-too-happy to be passed over, plus they all took paycuts recently to help pay for the new guy.
And then there’s the prospect of Roy’s return to the agency. If Hillary doesn’t get the nomination, Roy will be back and looking to re-engage.
Will Taylor stay longer than he did at Fallon? The betting pool is already active. “
And then this one:
“Your coverage of “Idea City” misses the big news around the company: while clients leave, new business falters, and valuable employees defect, the so-called “leadership committee” of long time sycophants has been consumed by internal squabbles. It’s increasingly clear that the agency’s much-vaunted “power of purpose” isn’t winning in the real world. But our fearless leaders are tying themselves in knots trying to fit this shopworn idea into the mundane day-to-day work of the agency. When are they going to realize that the agency’s branding approach has never actually been implemented because it doesn’t actually work and that it’s time to get real? The whole place is getting tired of waiting for intelligent leadership that has some clue about what we do and how advertising really works. Instead all we’re getting is insanely complex new work processes that are designed to make sure all the tired old ideas are dutifully respected. Despite the new CIO, an exodus of talent is imminent.”
February 20, 2008 at 1:52 pm
The word is that mark taylor is a really, really unbalanced workaholic with no people skills. Apparently the thing that ushered him out the door at Fallon is because he was demanding the 24/7 work culture and they weren’t having it. I wonder if it will go over any better among the old school dudes at GSDM?
Actually, i’m rooting for GSDM because Austin is a great town that deserves a great shop. (Though McGarrah-Jessee is good…)
February 20, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Most old school dudes at GSDM work 7/7or6.
February 20, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Indeed the old school passed along the 7/7 to a lot of the newer folks….interesting times ahead!
February 20, 2008 at 8:12 pm
I don’t know Mark Taylor, but there is a big difference between creating the work and creative directing it. Over the years GSD&M has had world class people in and out of there in all disciplines, but because the agency culture isn’t about the work, most of them got tired of beating their heads against the wall and left. There are still great people there, but the truth is if GSD&M’s clients wanted Cripsin-esque work, they would’ve gone to Crispin instead of GSD&M. Taylor might be good…but he’s going to be at an agency where quality of work isn’t first on the agenda. Hopefully the man’s had some stiff management experience because he’s going to need it.
February 21, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Fly on the Wall wrote about Mark Taylor: Apparently the thing that ushered him out the door at Fallon is because he was demanding the 24/7 work culture and they weren’t having it
Maybe there’s a clue here as to why Fallon has been in so much trouble? Maybe they think they’re above working their way out of it? Maybe.
February 22, 2008 at 4:42 am
Mr Taylor has his work cut out for him.
February 23, 2008 at 6:37 pm
CP&B is such an “image” agency, most of their interactive creative is outsourced to small shops like Domani Studios in NYC; their dim-witted communications director was on her internet radio show admitting she was not internet savvy and she did understand how a blog works………wow
March 4, 2008 at 9:35 pm
He does have his work cut out for him. There are so many politics without Roy’s involvement here. I don’t doubt he’ll get cooperation from the GCDs, but he’s going to run into a knife aimed squarely at his back by Marianne Malina who has taken control of the creative department and pretty much run it into the ground.
There are a lot of decent, hard working people here. And there is one who isn’t either.
Good luck, home skillet.
May 12, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I heard Mark Taylor speak at one of our AIGA creative symposium’s here in St. Louis a couple of years back. I was really unimpressed with him, his presentation, and his presentation abilities, and it was just after he had landed the job at Fallon. He stammered, stuttered and “um’d” his way through the whole presentation. My thought at the time I heard that he was no longer at Fallon was that if he presented to clients the way he presented to us-it was no wonder Fallon had let him go. Additionally, his whole presentation was showing CPB work that you can see in any online or offline publication, and providing commentary that you could read about in any of those same publications.
In all fairness, I have no idea if this guy is a brilliant creative. He may very well be. And it may have been his first time speaking to ad professionals…unfortunate if that is the case. But when will our industry learn that being a good creative doesn’t translate into being a good manager, and most certainly does not make someone a great LEADER.
Good luck to GSD&M. Good luck to Mr. Taylor. History tells us you both may need it.
Cheers to all from The ‘Loo!
May 21, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Isn’t Luke Sullivan still a GCD at GSD&M? It’s an interesting point the first comment makes…