DISQUS

Mats · 8 months ago

I'm curious.... can anyone explain why Chiat LA is laying off people. They seem to be the agency that's been winning new clients and receiving new business lately.

GJ · 8 months ago

I'd guess Nissan cut the shit out of creative off and online

jim · 8 months ago

Well, Nissan cut budgets for sure, but some of the other big relationships are on the rocks...specifically, everything Pepsico.

maddie · 8 months ago

Tequila doesn't exist anymore. It's now Chiat Digital and they haven't a clue.. from creative to the business of it. Clients don't trust them in that space either so they are having big problems and major growing pains as they bumble through this.

Chris · 8 months ago

It was 41 to be exact. 13 from creative, and others from just about every department.

Penny · 8 months ago

As soon as they lose Gatorade, it will be about 50 more.

no name · 8 months ago

Any legitimacy to this rumor? And is there really any client out there willing to admit a mistake this fast? Any clue where the account might land next? Anyone talking to Gatorade?

Bertram Cooper · 8 months ago

Chiat inherited a huge mess. Gatorade has been struggling to find it's identity, trying to broaden their appeal by targeting a much wider base. Stupid to turn your back on loyal consumers and the scientific formulations, which they have done. It will be interesting to see which Omnicom shop gets passed the hot potato. I am guessing that it won't be Arnell, C/D, or E79. Hmmm....? How about giving Sterling Coooper + Bogusky a crack at it?

wck · 8 months ago

Probably isn't over yet. 40 in one day may be only what HR was able to get through in a day.

AgencyBS · 8 months ago

Tequila is "Chiat Digital"? Really? And how do you know this? There is nothing anywhere that states this, and tequila.com is still up and running...

Not that i don't doubt it, Tequila has had some talent go through there i know that personally - the problem is the bonehead CD's like Joe N' Company running it and making the most idiotic creative decisions. Playstation had a talented crew but all the talent got fed up with the BS there and left, one reason why i'm sure they lost the account.

Based on the ABSOLUTE CRAP that TBWA\C\D LA has been producing for Nissan from the billboards on the 405 to print, to interactive...my only question is what took Nissan so long to cut ties. It's also no wonder why other accounts are in danger such as the Masterfoods..i think the only account that is truly happy at the LA branch is probably Pedigree.

Bell End · 8 months ago

I took a Chiat in the terlit this morning that looked better that agency's work.

Hoerner · 8 months ago

Chiat/Day?

HAUGHTY: is what first comes to mind!

I liked Robert LePlae, kind of an un-Chiat-ish sort.

I liked "HELLO I'M A MAC" too.

I liked... well little actually little else.

I guess "what goes around comes around."

Couldn't happen to a ______ bunch of_______!

(Go ahead and fill in those blanks. I'm not referring
to those poor souls who were turned out,
but to the ______ who termed them out!)

ad · 8 months ago

Tequila was mostly just changed into Chiat Digital. Same people... just changed our email addresses. Some lost in the restructuring. Yes, there are new clients, so while there are some layoffs, there are still other departments hiring.

agencyPRO · 8 months ago

I worked there (Tequila) while they lost Playstation. I was there for a year. I saw so much great talent become disgruntled, over worked, and under-appreciated. I saw the management team talk a lot of crap about the creatives. Producers constantly would talk behind designer/developer backs. The 'Director of Production' bullied people, he even yelled at a great person who worked there, in front of others. The fact they have continued to promote this guy says a lot about Tequila. They forget it's the talent that makes an advertising agency great. Tequila has the same producers and managers, for years, while talent has been revolving. I saw some amazing designers and creatives jump ship. Who wants to be managed by a group of people that don't appreciate them. Even their website, the creatives and developers that worked on it, are no longer there. Tequila brags about their great work environment, yet when I was there, that great environment was plagued by producers that thought they were the more important than the talent. Ultimately, these personalities, have to clash with clients.

Betty_Draper · 8 months ago

I worked at Tequila briefly as a producer while the Playstation account was strong. I agree with agencyPro. The general attitude by the producers and managers was all about the bottom line. Creative was secondary. In fact most of the staff there, excluding the creatives, had never worked in ad agency before and had very little interest in the industry. It was all about keeping on schedule and on budget. Who cares if the end product looks like shit.

While the majority of the designers/developers were talented, there were several who were not. The some of their antics were truly unprofessional and would never be tolerated under better management.

As for the "Director of Production", I am very surprised to hear that he would ever yell at someone let alone in front of others. He may not be the best manager but he certainly is respectful of others.

Ad Rat · 8 months ago

Is Amy Miyano one of the people laid off? Chiat would be a much happier place without her.

Jiggy · 8 months ago

Amy Miyano is a great person. You just have to do your work and do it well.

anon · 8 months ago

I know a producer with the initials KD who is freelancing there and she is, in a word, horrible. No sense of the digital space, no ability to problem solve on the fly, and conviction in her decision making (or rather, lack-thereof).

"Chiat Digital", or whatever they are calling it nowadays, continues to have a horrible reputation to those in the know. It's about time people begin to wise up.

Digital Agency of the Year · 8 months ago

KVB isn't much better either. They plucked someone from Draft to run their digital operations. While KVB may be smart, she's not digitally savvy and the work is more reflective of a production shop. To-kill-ya is not a creative shop and I know developers in high school who are more talented. It would be more cost effective to outsource their shit to Costa Rica.

X Employed · 8 months ago

actually you didn't hear it here first. I heard it first...when i was laid off.

F you and your first bullshit, this ain't Ain't It Cool News tool.

Blog Rodoyovich · 8 months ago

try to channel the hate into action, X... i've watched so many people i respect and like get fucked over in the last six months, it's not funny. sometimes i feel like the second to the last guy in the zombie movie, just waiting to get bit. good luck and god bless ya, dude.

thetaylor · 8 months ago

there's no need for people like amy. these people make a shitload of money and do nothing. every agency has one. they're very powerfuk and everyone is afraid of them. the pepsi work was less than highschool quality.

you suck · 8 months ago

wow, you just love posting that people get fired, but not one post on Draft/FCB Chicago winning Miller.

me · 8 months ago

they may have won gatorade and pepsi but every other client's budget has decreased due to the economy - thus decreasing staffing. but the messed up part is upper managment still gets fresh flowers weekly, the staff still get bagels twice a week and fruit twice a week. they still have a baseball team in the advertsing baseball league, they still are constructing a 5 story parking lot - don't you think they should cut it back to 4 stories now?! they still have some idiot human resource employees who dont do jack - they gossip all day and plan their weddings. bunch of airheads! Do they really need 6 HR employees when they outsource their benefits - no they dont but yet they are still employeed. T\C\D did it all wrong - and thus bringing morale down. No one wants to work for a president who can't even address her people to let them know whats going on.

jeff mcg · 8 months ago

the visa campign is fuckin horrid