The Diary of Putney Swope.

$100 Million advertiser H&R Block looking for new agency

Maybe what they should be doing is looking for a new tax accountant.  While the two stories are completely unrelated, it was reported last week that H&R Block, tax accountants to the poor and indigent, screwed up their own tax returns for last year in the amount of $32,000,000 and got bitch slapped by the IRS.
Article in RedHerring

In more relevant industry news, they are now looking for a new agency to help with their $100,000,000 advertising account.  Maybe if they spent a little of that on a new tax account they wouldn't need to spend as much on advertising.
Article in Adweek

The five shops in contention are (click to see their profiles on Adforum.com):
Arnold Boston, Mullen, Deutsch LA, Cambell Mithun, DDB Chicago.  The search is being lead by kick ass agency search consultant Select Resources International.

My Current Pitch for a DB Client

So my agency is pitching to a women's hygiene client.  Yes, you got that right, women's hygiene, douche bags and the such.  My president, assuming I am the most familiar with certain anatomical parts of the female form, has tapped me to head up the pitch.  We probably don't have a shot in hell at winning the business, but it's sure going to be fun for the next 3 weeks.  I'm thinking that I'm going to go in with no story board, no spec film, no ppt presentation, but rather a live model that will actually show the product being used.  That;s got to score us some originality and creative points, if nothing else.  Safe to say, they'll never forget the name Putney Swope.  Hell, it will probably be listed right in the police report.

Anyone else working on this pitch?  I'd love to exchange notes.

Does GE's new CMO = Agency Search

GE just named their new CMO, Danny Henson (per AdWeek report).  While he's quite young, we've been told he does in fact shave and has his driver's license, or was that permit.  Regardless, the question is whether this young new Turk will be looking to put his own stamp on things and maybe put the $140 Million account (yes that's 7 zeros) up for review.  BBDO has some history, but there is a brand spanking new account head, Bill Power.  Hopefully, young Danny doesn't take BBDO's catchy catch phrase to heart and put his "Imagination at Work" thinking of all the great sucking up he could get from a nice agency search.  We'll see and as always, I'll let you know what we hear.  If he does, I just hope he considers the great work that Putney Swope can pump out and that's no jibe turkey.