Still Crazy – Dan Wieden And David Kennedy

Dan Wieden and David Kennedy, founders of the notorious agency, are still crazy. Yes. Funny guys. In this recently posted video, they talk about how they got started, crack some jokes about the 60s, about being a “floating piece of shit on the ocean” and generally, act pretty lovable. We just watched it while eating our very late lunch and were quite entertained. Enjoy!

W+K’s Mushy Heart

After almost 18years at Wieden Kennedy, Andy winning producer Jennifer Smieja (which we’re guessing is Swedish) is leaving the agency. The folks at W+K really love her. Like, a lot, lot. She does look nice, right? The best part is certainly the tail end with the dance montage. Must watch.

Jen, we wish you luck. If you can inspire this much love, hell, we’ll throw some your way too.

Around The World With W+K

Yesterday, we were whining about W+K’s PR email inbox protocol. Turns out that W+K PR has one person checking their inbox! Seriously? Interns people. Interns. Today, Joani Wardwell (global PR director), was kind enough to get back in touch with us regarding our earlier inquiry about W+K New York layoffs. Apparently, it ain’t happening due to the some growth on their ESPN and Jordan accounts and the win of ColeHaan and Nokia.

In honor of Wardwell (who apparently makes a mean chocolate pie) here’s an interesting bit o’ news coming out of W+K. The agency is sending product designer Christin Spagnoli and Andrew (whose last name we’re unsure of) around the world in 30 days to visit each of the shop’s global offices. Wieden and Luhr sent them out to be “human sponges” in attempt to find out about more global identity of the agency. The duo will then create a book that “accurately reflects the spirit and values of W+K .”

Other agencies have made books like this and we do believe every agency who hasn’t should get on board. Um… note to our agency: Send us! Please, please send us?

W+K Public Relations – Where Are You?

On another Wieden note…

We wrote W+K an email about a story that you may or may not ever see. We wrote the general PR box over at the shop, since we couldn’t find the appropriate contact on the fancy pants website they’ve got. And, P.S., most agencies have the right person, right up front willing to communicate. In response, a week later, we received this:

On Feb 4, 2008, at 8:10 PM, Public Relations wrote:

Please note; this is an email address for media responses only.

Okay, good we’ve got the right email address.

If you are inquiring about a specific position or other job opportunity within the company please send your information to xxxxx@wk.com in human resources.

Hmmm. No. Next?

If you are an artist or photographer interested in freelance work for the company, please contact xxxxx@wk.com in art buying.

Okay. No again.

If you are interested in touring or renting the Portland building for a special event or charity please contact xxxxx@wk.com.

Interesting. Nice way to add some dollars to the bottom line, W+K.

Due to confidentiality requirements of the agency, we are unable to participate in student research projects. Any materials that we are able to provide will be located at www.wk.com

Due to a high volume of emails, for all other media requests please allow sufficient time while your request is being processed. Please only submit media related queries to this address, due to volume of emails we will be unable to process all other inquiries.

Wieden+Kennedy

Hunh. The high volume of emails? You guys have a massive amount of interns. Shouldn’t someone be sifting through these?  Hell, even death star McCann sifts through their PR box. Maybe they think we’re not good enough to speak with? Nah. The shop loves to send us all their job and “12″ info. Whatever it is, may we suggest that you guys sift through your PR box? Heavens knows what you might be missing out on.

W+K Flirts With Apple

A little birdy pointed out a thought provoking blog posting on the Wieden + Kennedy Studio blog about a recent visit to Cupertino made by staffers to talk “top-secret stuff” with Apple. Why this is interesting? In 2007, the computer maker snatched Rebecca Van Dyck, the longtime global account director on the Nike business for W+K. The team from Wieden that went on over to California included digital, studio and video production folks. Does this mean Chiat better watch out?

W+K New York Is Going To Drop Bodies?

WE HEAR THAT…W+K New York is headed for some layoffs in the next few days. Our email and call to HR has yet to be returned.

As one of our tipsters told us, “they need to get some new business. they lost Aquas and haven’t got anything new in a long time.” Well, at least they still have Tor. What are we talking about? That’s Grey isn’t it. Guess Tor’s little video is still fresh in our nightmares minds. What we should have said is, at least these still have Todd.

WK12 Is Looking – Internationally

It’s that time again. W+K is looking for candidates for WK12. It’s year number five. Maybe that’s why they’ve opened it up to international applicants? If you’re interested, head over to their website, which didn’t work for us, but maybe you’ll have better luck.

No Wukkas: The Job Hunt

Remember we talked about W+K looking for creatives? Well, they’ve posted a video for all you folks looking for that special gig.

And The Sexiest Man In Advertising Is…

Thanks to everyone who voted in Agency Spy’s First Annual Sexiest Man In Advertising Competition. With 494 votes cast we do have a winner! But, first, we’d like to point out that the original posting received thousands of hits. Hmmm…. so we’re guessing that in this male dominated and mostly heterosexual business of ours, you fellows decided to skip out on the whole voting thing. Well, we got emails to that affect anyway. Whatevs. We had some fun, some laughs and we’re glad to see the we have a winner!

In ninth place is Selmat Datang Chen of W+K with 2% of the votes. In eighth place is Mauro Alencar of Publicis Modem (3%). Seventh is Juan Cabral of Fallon UK (4%) and sixth is Jose Molla, founder la comunidad in Miami, with 9%. Coming in at number five is Nick Law, CCO of R/GA, with 10% of the vote. Fourth is Feh Tarty, an AD at Goodby, (12%). Third place goes to David Droga of Drgoa5 (13%) and the runner-up is Ajaz Ahmed from AKQA (20%).

And with 28% of the vote, thewinner is…. Geoff Edwards SVP of the SF TAG Unit at McCann Erickson!!!

Everyone knows how much we dislike McCann Erickson. However, the agency’s one shining star is certainly their Tag units where Geoff is an SVP and a group creative director at the SF branch.

Geoff is 38 and a Detroit native. He started out as an intern at Chiat/Day in New York 14 years ago and helped Spike Lee launch Spike DDB in 1996 (sweet!). Edwards pulled stints at Element 79 Partners and, prior to that, Interpublic Group’s Foote, Cone & Belding, as well. He then went on to work at TBWA/C/D SF where he was paired with his longtime partner, Scott Duchon, who was once named GQ’s Man of the Month. Chuck McBride once said of the team that “I find them to be incredibly tenacious. A lot of people get worn down by negative process. They take the adversity and use it to their benefit. They come out heroes that way.”

Having worked on Playstation and Adidas might have helped Edwards co-create/manage that wonderful, award winning “Gears Of War” spot this past year. Check out his Clio stats here and his Cannes credits here. For Art Director’s club shout outs, see here. Creativity Online recently held a Q&A with our sexiest man where he had this response to the question, what’s the process like becoming leaders [rather than strict creatives]?

“Honestly, I think it’s an evolutionary process. You don’t learn to be a leader, it’s based on past experiences, on people who have influenced you and influenced your career. A huge influence on me is Bob Scarpelli. He’s the (film and press) jury chair this year and I can’t wait to see him. When I was at DDB/Chicago, I learned a lot from him. There’s this one quote that I carry around that he always said, and that’s “All good ideas find a home.” It’s so true because a lot of ideas aren’t bought, but you hold on to those thoughts and at some point there will be an opportunity. For instance, the song we put on the Gears of War spot, that’s a song Scott had always kind of kept with him, and then this spot came out and was a perfect opportunity. So I think leadership is about grabbing the positive experiences we’ve had in this industry and galvanizing them, and incorporating them into your personal style. It starts from the core. The core of it are talented teams. They’re the young people. They’re shaping the culture of the industry. They’re coming up with the ideas. They’re charged with that and it’s up to Scott and myself to recognize the good ones and direct them, not impose too much of your will.”

Friday Party Pics Courtesy Of Desedo

We’ve been keeping an eye on Desedo Films. Why you ask? One, they created a faux Hummer spot that was pretty decent. Two, they then followed that up with a trend report on one of the most overlooked segments of our unwieldy culture – the black nerd. While it may sound odd that a production company is churning out insights, keep in mind that this is a new world advertising order. They must be good at it as, WE HEAR THAT… think tank/consumer insights firm ScenarioDNA is working with them now.

Desedo has thrown a party and you know how much we love a good ad industry get down. Held at Fontana’s, in the armpit of the Lower East Side, New York City, the company decided to hold an autumn apotheosis celebration. Doesn’t that sound like something the smarty farty kids at W+K would come up with? However, the folks that attended were way to um… cool and well, multi-cultural to have been at a Wieden event. Desedo and Naked should set up a dating service, as these two shops have some good lookin’ guests running around their events.

Christ – is that girl wearing the new Chloe Sevigny line for Opening Ceremony? Our autumn apotheosis party is going to involve buying some new clothes.

See all the pics here.

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