While 2022 is the Year of the Tiger, 2021 was the Year of the Ox. Among the Chinese zodiac signs, the Ox symbolizes diligence, strength, honesty, down-to-earth persistence and wealth; in contrast, the Tiger symbolizes strength, speed, exorcising evil and bravery.
As the transition between symbols occurs from late January to mid-February, it’s time to recognize three industry figures whose actions in the past year reflected the Ox—although they may ultimately become Tigers in the year ahead.
Hero Group CEO Joe Anthony lobbed a $10 million grenade at DDB Chicago, filing a lawsuit that charged the White advertising agency with fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract and more. The accusations stemmed from Hero Group joining forces with DDB Chicago to win the US Army account. Anthony insisted that DDB reneged on an agreement to award “significant work” to the New York-based Hero Group after the pitch victory. The argument escalated to a Medium perspective, wherein Anthony presented Prime Redlining as follows:
Prime Redlining is when the prime applicant or beneficiary of a government contract teams up with a minority firm to apply for or secure a government contract; and after winning the government contract, the prime redlines the minority firm out of the contract by denying or extremely limiting the minority firm from the financial benefit originally established in their teaming agreement or dictated by government compliance requirements.
There were no further reports on the progress and/or outcome of the lawsuit. However, Anthony surfaced as a leader in a partnership with Carat, a company within the Dentsu empire.
Media Mogul Byron Allen launched an offensive by sending letters of intent to brands and White advertising agencies, threatening legal action if the enterprises failed to allocate more money to Black-owned media. In short, Allen was refusing to accept crumbs.
Leading a team of Black media moguls, Allen drove a full-page advertisement attacking General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra for declining to meet with them. In the end, Barra, Allen and the group staged a powwow—and General Motors later announced plans to increase spending with Black-owned media.
Allen then set his sights on Mickey D’s, filing a whopper $10 billion discrimination lawsuit. Plus, Allen even demanded that McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski be fired for alleged cultural cluelessness on an unrelated incident. A judge initially tossed the lawsuit; however, Allen was allowed to amend the complaint. Stay McTuned.
Nathan Young rose to Head of Strategy for Ethos, a new offering from Deloitte Digital designed to help brands build equity, justice and sustainability initiatives. In his professional role, Young may reach greater heights than the 600 & Rising platform that he cofounded in 2020—but don’t expect any accolades from ADCOLOR®.
Anthony, Allen and Young represent Oxen and Tigers, displaying courage and conviction to call out systemic inequities—and serving as exorcists to cast out perpetuating evils.
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