Agency Spy

JWT is responsible for the new print ads associated with the launch of David Beckham’s new fragrance line called (guffaw) “Instinct After Dark.” Cliche alert! Cliche alert! This is the prototype, the maxim of a men’s fragrance ad. You have the brand wattage and bod of Beckham at your disposal and you phone this kind of stuff in? Shameless.

This is a limited edition line for Coty that is separate and distinct from that of Posh and Beck’s “Intimately Beckham” scent. Those ads are even harder to look at and not nearly as funny or inventive as Posh’s Marc Jacobs piece. JWT is not responsible for these latter two ads. Just the snoozer over there to the left.

Seems that Diageo has settled on JWT for the global Baileys advertising business worth about $80 million annually - as announced late yesterday out of London. They are in final negotiations on a contract at the moment.  The win is a boost for the WPP Group-owned agency after it lost the business to BBH five years ago.

Incumbent BBH and (surprise, surprise) Leo Burnett got turfed in the final round. Fallon was booted earlier in the process.  BBH will remain on the Diageo roster and will continue to work on Johnnie Walker. The loss will come as a blow to the agency, which lost the Smirnoff business to JWT in 2006

Agency Republic, an Omnicom agency, got assigned the global digital work earlier.

The current campaign shows Baileys aimed at moving it from being seen as a drink consumed only at Christmas.

RMG Connect, JWT’s “below the line” (digital, CRM, DM, etc.) partner agency has lost its second EMEA CEO in less than 18 months.

Linda Jackson seemingly took a big step down in her career arc to leave London last month and take over as the new General Director of OgilvyOne Mexico (her predecessor at RMG, Nelly Andersen, left RMG to return to her prior place of employment, OgilvyOne, back in October 2006 and is now an EVP, Global Brands at OgilvyOne Worldwide out of the London office.)

RMG Connect, particularly in the London office, has had mass defections of both staff & clients prior to, and during, Jackson’s reign at the shop — so perhaps it is not a massive surprise.

But given the fact that prior to the recent economic downturn, there was a vast amount of money to be made in the “BTL” area over the past couple of years — especially in the UK market — and RMG did not have much luck in either winning or retaining their current client base (they lost their accounts at Sky, Vodafone, etc.)

Of course, they still retain the HSBC business (in conjunction with JWT) — so the office meal ticket is safe for the time being — but Tim Hipperson, the UK CEO, and Philip Greenfield, RMG Connect’s Global CEO (who is listed on their website at the current contact for the EMEA operation) cannot be feeling too happy at the moment.

Staffers at JWT New York must be psyched. Booze hound G. Parker has it on good authority that the agency’s in-house booze bar is re-opening after a five year hiatus. Is that what all the hubbub was about a week ago? Nah, but this is pretty good too. Okay. Someone invite us over. We can hold it down better than Paula. Promise. What kind of scotch you guys got over there anyway?

Welch’s Foods is reviewing creative duties on its ad account JWT, is not participating in the process. Spending on the Welch’s account has declined from $15M and $20M according AdWeak. In 2005, they selected MPG for planning and buying duties, which is not in play now.

Welch’s is the brand who recently created those lickable print ads in People magazine. Ewww….

Hiii guys… We did this fluff piece about JWT this morning. It’s a slow news day. It happens. The upside was that we got some tips about some possible interesting news from JWT New York and involving one of their ECDs. Hmm… Well, we can’t prove a darn thing without your help. Without you, we are nothing. So, little help?

IM us yeah? IM: agencyspy or email us at agencyspy at mediabistro dot com

J Walter Thompson has been around since 1864. Founded in New York as Carlton and Smith, an advertising broker trading space in the religious journals. The firm was purchased and renamed by James Walter Thompson in 1878. That’s a picture of J.W. up there. Under Thompson’s leadership the Company expanded its operations to include the placing of advertisements in women’s magazines, an innovation to which the young business owed much of its success. As early as the 1890s, the company had offices in Boston, Chicago, and London and was dabbling in the nascent industry of the development of trademarks and industrial design. So, what’s happening at JWT, worldwide, in the past few days?

- JWT announced that it will volunteer its services to support the Bob Woodruff Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises awareness of the devastation caused by the “hidden injuries of war”, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and combat stress. Read more here.

- JWT, Detroit has created new ads for Ford, in which two guys in their 20s are driving and one shows off his new Microsoft Sync system by commanding the system to play Smashing Pumpkins. The automaker is expected to announce that its joint technology package with Microsoft has escalated sales of its Focus compact car by double digits this year. Read more here.

- For the first time in the 4As history, young creatives have a dream opportunity – to showcase their talents and a chance to represent Singapore at the Cannes Lions 2008 Young Lions Competition. Chaired by Tay Guan Hin, Regional Executive Creative Director of JWT. Read more here.

- JWT MENA network have sped away with 12 out of 20 advertising awards up for grabs at this year’s prestigious MENA Cristal Awards held in Faraya, Lebanon this month. Read more here.

Crispin has won Microsoft. We repeat. Crispin has won Microsoft. Pick your jaw up off the floor. You better recognize. The $300M brand (Pretty. Fucking. Sweet.) has selected the upstart, the rebel, the defy the odds and take prisoners agency of the day. They took JWT and McCann - two agencies that have been around the block and back. Fallon, the runner-up, has got to be shocked.

This is where you must sit back and consider. You’ve seen the Mac vs. PCs ads. Microsoft is a stalwart. A heavy machine that is the pillar of the economy, of the American way. This is no little brand. This isn’t a burger chain looking to be hip. This is Microsoft. The software titan has bypassed the death stars, the agencies with all the resources and international locations, hundreds of workers to select Crispin. The game has changed and permanently. The Rebel Alliance has won.

UPDATE: What a bitch. To see the video, click on the Craig Davis link, as we can’t seem to get YouTube and WordPress to play nice. 

JWT NY has put up an installation in support of New York Cares an organization, which seeks to mobilize New Yorkers in volunteer service. This is their 19th year performing a coat drive and apparently, their most successful. So far the most successful this year.

Staffers Kash Sree, Christina De La Cruz, Scott Bell, Julie Rutiglianso and Lauren Lafranz are responsible for the installation. The video was shot by Danny Goldstein. We agree with JWT blogger, Craig Davis, when he asks - doesn’t it look like Ty?

Marian Salzman, the woman who is named in almost every press release that JWT sends out, has left the agency. Marian was the worldwide chief marketing officer at the agency, but has bailed to become a partner at public relations agency Porter Novelli. Nice move and congrats Marian.

CEO Bob Jeffrey sent out an email today confirming her departure. We’d love to see it! Please forward to us? Please? (agencyspy at mediabistro dot com).

Salzman made a fast rise at JWT. She was first a consultant and then joined the agency as the director of strategic content (doesn’t that sound like a made up title?) in 2005. By early February 2006, she was CMO. Apparently, the lady is a powerhouse. Her Facebook page reads like a who’s who of the biz. Stand back ladies and gentlemen. The lady is on a roll.

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