When I first started in this business, a very smart group of people were just breaking the national scene; Fallon, McElligott, Rice opened in 1981 in Minneapolis Minnesota- far away from Madison Avenue and the whole “ad scene.”
It seemed almost as stupid as opening a small ad agency in Dayton Ohio in 1988- the only difference was that these people had all worked at some bigger agencies, and weren’t starting from scratch.
In fact, most agencies start by mitosis (splitting of cells). And, it seems it’s happening again, as some former Fallon people are hanging their own shingle, taking Fallon’s star client; United Airlines with them.
Personally, I find this repugnant. It’s called biting the hand that feeds you. If you can do such great work for the client on your own, why can’t you do it for the company that brought you? I’ve never met Pat Fallon, but, I’ve met some of the people he’s mentored in this business; Luke Sullivan, Sally Hogshead and former business partner Joe Duffy, three of the classiest, nicest, most talented people in the ad world. (Note, I’ve also met another former Fallon/Duffy employee who started his own thing- that was a total jerk, but very talented as a one-trick pony). So, while I’m sure these guys that Ernie gives kudo’s to are all nice guys, I’m wondering what Pat Fallon has done to deserve having so much business and talent- slip out the door lately?
Ernie Schenck Calls This Advertising?: Rhapsody In Minneapolis
Barrie D’Rozario Murphy’s star just went from on the ascent to full zenith mode with United Airline’s decision to go with the fledgling but oh so talented Minneapolis shop, thus ending a long-standing relationship with beleagured Fallon. Am I surprised? Yes. Am I surprised? No. Bob Barrie and Stuart D’Rozario and the work they did for United when the airline was in its darkest hour continues to be one of the classiest and tasteful campaigns in the business. So while I honor all that Fallon has done for United, these guys deserve much of the credit.
The site for Barrie D’Rozario Murphy is www.bdm.net (and like most recent Fallon spin off agencies- it’s in Flash and can’t be found).
While I try to keep up on the superstars of advertising (sometimes it gets a little difficult), I have to wonder: of the great ad agencies in this country- which agency would get the honor of being the best breeding ground for superstar talent? Which agency has spun off the most “hot shops”- and, where are the best places to hone your skills?
I’m also wondering how clients like United, can believe that a small start-up can take over a major account and do a truly better job, just out of the gates. Fallon has demonstrated over the years that they “get it” and are as forward thinking as any agency on the planet.
Is loyalty absolutely impossible in the advertising world anymore?
Any thoughts?
Stuart D’Rozario and Bob Barrie did some amazing work at at time when United was all but on its deathbed. If those guys decide to strike out on their own and a client that has abiding faith in them decides to cast its lot with the new shop, where is the problem in that? It’s business. Do you think, David, that Fallon hasn’t benefitted from clients who decided to throw their agencies overboard because of the promise of better things ahead? It’s evolution. Pat Fallon knows that. Believe me.
I’ve never met Pat Fallon, Ernie, but, I still wonder why D’Rozario and Brrie can’t or won’t do the same kind of work in Fallon’s shop?
We’ve had our employees go on to bigger and better things- but, most of them have left our clients alone. With BMW, Lee and now United leaving Fallon- I’m sure Pat Fallon is feeling like he shouldn’t have walked under a ladder.
Business is business, but, I guess I’m not cut throat enough to take food away from the man who fed me for years.
So you’re saying that when guys leave the mother ship, as I once did, to start their own shop, they should turn down business if it comes knocking on their door? Clients have to follow the talent. Again, I am telling you. Pat Fallon is just as guilty as me or D’Rozario or Barrie or a lot of guys. It might be biting the hand that fed you but it’s life in the jungle.
Ernie, I’m saying- go start your own shop- but do it with clients that you didn’t steal from the mothership.
If I work for you- I’m not going to steal clients from you. It’s perfectly OK to go off and start your own thing- and steal someone else’s clients.
When Pat Fallon started- he was doing jobs for small barber shops. He didn’t start up with a mega client- like United.
I think it’s the clients money, his business. If he feels that going with a couple of guys who are going to help his business more, why not?
On the other hand if these guys refuse the client due to moral reasons is it being moral? afterall shouldnt your loyalty be with the business? Also, in the long run, this business could anyway have left Fallon for some other creative shop.
Sampat,
Interesting point, however is this a step toward total anarchy in marketing? As it is, CMO’s are staying as long as the agency’s they hire? Kerri Martin goes to VW- and leaves in less than a year, I don’t want to mention Julie Roehm at Wal Mart, or Anne Macdonald at Macy’s.
How safe are the new guys with their new client? Is this really what we have to look forward to? In a day when marketing is increasingly about relationships- what kind of client/agency relationship do we want?
Where was the communication breakdown between Fallon and United? It seems that United didn’t really want a new agency- they just wanted the same guys- with a different name on the door.
Call me old fashioned- but, I think loyalty to ones employer still should be considered a valuable trait.
It’s nice to have comments from Bangalore! Thanks.
“I guess I’m not cut throat enough to take food away from the man who fed me for years.”
Geez, we don’t live in a feudal system. These guys are grown men.
Based on the work they’ve done, it seems to me that Stuart D’Rozario and Bob Barrie fed themselves just fine working at Fallon.
To really draw this comparison out- is it then also ok to make off with the bosses wife?
I’m not a fan of non-compete clauses, however, common decency in my book rules out taking clients (and the wife) from the company that has given me a paycheck.
Grown men or not, coveting the clients of my former employer crosses a certain moral line with me. You can say it’s just business- but, I say- go plant your own fields and then you may reap the fruit of your labor.
to really truly draw the comparison out,
United was not sleeping with Pat Fallon. They were sleeping with Barrie and D’Razario in Fallon’s house. When they decided to buy their own house rather than pay the rent, where do you think the wife goes?
I must hand it to young designer for drawing out the comparison-
I just hope you don’t end up setting up your own shop and having your employees harvest your crops and take them to market to cash in for themselves.
Pat Fallon gave them that roof- and he paid their rent- they gave him their labor, without assuming the risks of having their house being taken from them.
You can slice it anyway you want- I don’t steal clients from my former employer. In fact, I feel guilty when a non-profit that worked with a vendor of mine in the past- comes to me to ask me to handle their project because after four years of a similar approach- they wanted something fresh.
Call me old school- but, to me, loyalty and integrity still count.
Loyalty is over rated, life is hard. At the end of the day most employers pay you a salary to make them money, creativity for them comes down the list a bit no matter how much you would like it to be otherwise. If there are clients you have done the work for and you get on with them, then sure- take them, if you can. After 17 years in the business and having been screwed by ‘caring, creative employers’ who will suck the last drop of creativity out of you (yipee) for the end of year profits, I say rip that client away, do good work and get paid well for doing it.
Wake up and smell the coffee, we all love doing good work, you’ve got to make a living.
Actually, it is okay to take the client or the wife for that matter, because it’s not running off when the boss or former agency doesn’t keep up on the needs, desires and vision–to grow both parties in the relationship.
This business is about being the best, and it stings like a mother when you lose. However when clients change with the times, and the agency keeps a creative formula that doesn’t work anymore, it’s time to move on, period. It’s in the best interest, and peeing on something doesn’t mean someone else can’t.
If you want them back, earn it. Stealing doesn’t exist–and if the client wasn’t being loyal, don’t blame the younger one they ran off with. Show them what they’re missing.