Sunday, May 06, 2012

10074: O. Burtch Drake Saluted Despite Failure.

Advertising Age Editor-in-Chief Rance Crain interviewed former 4A’s honcho O. Burtch Drake on his induction into the Advertising Hall of Fame. Here’s an excerpt:

The ad industry’s major hot potato is diversity, and I asked Burtch why it has been such a difficult issue. “I think the biggest challenge is that the advertising agency business does not appear to be really attractive to young minorities yet, despite all the efforts of the portfolio schools, the scholarships that the 4A’s are putting up, the work the AAF is doing. I don’t know. Nobody has cracked the nut, and it doesn’t seem to be, frankly, getting any better.”

Net takeaway: You can admit failing to make meaningful progress with industry diversity—and confess to being clueless on solutions—yet still get inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame.

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