11441: Carter Murray On Hiring.

Let’s review the first week of work for new Draftfcb CEO Carter Murray—particularly his key hiring decisions.

In a bewildering act of exclusivity mixed with stupidity, Murray pulled Jonathan Harries out of the Draftfcb dumpster and re-anointed him as Global Chief Creative Officer. This is the equivalent of an NFL team suddenly signing Tim Tebow to run the offense. Or Tim Conway.

To perhaps address the alleged dearth of dames in our field, Murray named Elyssa Phillips as his Chief of Staff. Um, when did advertising firms ever require such a role? Somebody tell Murray he’s leading a White agency, not the White House.

Murray engaged in standard cronyism by tapping Nigel Jones as Global Chief Strategy Officer. Murray and Jones co-conspired at Publicis, and the move marks a second stint at Draftfcb for the GCSO. It’s British Bromance meets Old Boys’ Club.

Finally, Murray elevated Vita Harris to EVP Strategic Planning. In a memo to the troops, Murray gushed, “Vita has made significant contributions to our global network, especially in recent years. She is not just respected for her great thinking and the results she produces but also, as I have heard from many sources, because of her passion for our business and her integrity that run deep. Whilst remaining a key partner on our global leadership team, Vita and I are also exploring an exciting new initiative that would take advantage of her many talents…but we will save that news for another note!” Oh, please don’t nominate her to be Global Diversity Ambassador.

It could be argued that Murray extended generous offers to White men, while granting token merits to the women. Then again, if the new CEO continues his recruiting average of two White men for every White woman and Black woman, he’ll bring more diversity to the industry than anyone in recorded history.

7830: H&R Block Blocks Diversity.

Advertising Age reported H&R Block is the latest advertiser to reassign its account sans a formal review. The tax preparer handed $155 million in billings to Fallon. If H&R Block held a pitch, would it qualify as a tax write-off? The decision ultimately blocked minority agencies from being considered—and perpetuated the exclusivity and buddy system that stifles all attempts at industry diversity. Somebody should audit H&R Block’s bullshit commitment to inclusive work environments.

H&R Block Taps Fallon for $155M Account Without Review
CMO Turtledove Puts Marketing Stamp on Company

By Rupal Parekh

NEW YORK -- H&R Block is shifting creative duties on its $155 million account to Publicis Groupe’s Fallon from Omnicom Group’s DDB without a review.

The agency change comes nearly a year after Robert Turtledove, who has previously held marketing positions at Pizza Hut and online information service LiveAdvice.com, left his chief marketing officer seat at job site TheLadders.com to become CMO at H&R Block.

By handing lead agency duties to Minneapolis-based Fallon—the shop Mr. Turtledove hired while he was at TheLadders.com—Mr. Turtledove sends a clear sign he’s ready to put his stamp on the company. The move comes on the heels of the abrupt departure of H&R Block CEO Russ Smyth earlier this month.

When Mr. Turtledove stepped into the CMO role at H&R Block last summer, it was just after the company dumped its agency of nine years, Campbell Mithun, in favor of DDB. Many speculated the move was sparked by Mr. Smyth’s ties to DDB, solidified after 21 years at McDonald’s Corp.

Earlier this year in an interview with Ad Age, Mr. Turtledove was complimentary of DDB and touted having its account consolidated at a single holding company.

He said at the time: “In addition to DDB handling advertising, we have Tribal doing online and social media, Ketchum doing PR, Alma doing our Latino campaign and Rapp doing direct marketing. The oft-promised integration and synergy of working within a holding company is something we are realizing. There is real-time sharing of information and updating, and we have a more consistent voice now going to market.”

DDB referred calls to the client.

In a statement released today, Mr. Turtledove had this to say: “DDB is a world-class agency, and we are proud of and grateful for the work we accomplished together. We will continue working with Tribal DDB on several fronts, and OMD remains as the media agency of record. At the same time, the ever-evolving tax industry and consumer environment often demands different marketing approaches at different times. In that spirit, and based on our previous experiences working together, we believe that Fallon is the right partner to help us grow our business going forward.”

The win marks the second big account Fallon has snagged in the matter of a month. In early July, it was tapped by General Motors’ new marketing chief Joel Ewanick as the lead creative shop for Cadillac’s $270 million account, succeeding Publicis-backed Bartle Bogle Hegarty.

H&R Block, which is estimated to have handled 15% of all tax returns last year, spends the bulk of its large ad budget in the first half of the year around tax season. According to Kantar Media, the company devoted $123 million in domestic measured media between January and May of 2010. In 2009, it spent $155 million, according to Kantar.

The pressure is on Fallon to deliver strong creative advertising that will help stabilize H&R Block at a tumultuous time. The 55-year-old tax-preparation company had to install a new CEO, Alan Bennett, in the wake of Mr. Smyth’s departure. It also recently parted ways with board member Tom Bloch, the last member of the H&R Block’s founding family to have ties to the company.

6553: Trust Me, This Is Beyond Pathetic.

TNT series Trust Me played a doubleheader this week. The program went 0-for-2.

However, the show did extend its clueless streak.

The opening episode demonstrated the creators still don’t get women. The gals depict a White man’s fantasy. All the female characters remain sexual objects—either they want to have intercourse with the main men, or they want to bang other men. It’s difficult to believe the creators bill themselves as the producers of The Closer, which portrays one of the most original, positive and authentic women on TV.

The second episode displayed more of the Boy’s Club networking so prevalent in our industry. A former partner of Conner’s proved to be an incompetent hack—and we’ve seen little evidence that Mason and Conner aren’t hacks too—yet he managed to land a gig at the agency anyway. In advertising, connections trump talent every time.

If Trust Me were like the real ad game, they’d bring in a new creative team pronto. Or the whole damn thing would be up for review.

5044: You’ve Come A Long Way, Maybe.

Adweek published a column by McCann Erickson Chairman Nina DiSesa, which is actually closer to being hype for her soon-to-be-released book, Seducing the Boys Club. Regarding the progress of women in advertising, DiSesa wonders:

It’s 2008. How are we doing?

How many women are creative directors in the large New York agencies?

How many women are running advertising agencies that don’t have their name on the door?

How many women have P&L responsibilities that indicate real control and authority?

Um, you’re doing significantly better than minorities, girlfriend.

Read the column here.