My favorite story about Lee Clow came from MullenLowe L.A.’s executive creative director Margaret Keene. In my last port of call, I had a chance to find out how Keene got started in advertising in the first place. It turns out, as a teenager, that she saw Clow presenting storyboards to Porsche executives on a cable access show in the 1980s.
“When I first found advertising was my thing, I saw this dude with a long beard and crazy, red 80s glasses, denim shirt … and he was presenting these beautifully-drawn storyboards [to the German executives]. He just looked so cool, and I thought, ‘I like that guy, I like what he’s doing. I think I could do that. That’s what I want to do.’ And I come to find out later that it was Lee Clow. And that was my first gig, being his assistant.”
Keene, who was at Chiat\Day from 1992 to 2011 is one of many stories about the impact that Clow, who announced his retirement this week, had on advertising and the people he mentored.
One could talk a Pacific Ocean-sized blue streak about what Clow meant to creativity and the business of advertising in his 50 years, but it’s always most telling to hear how his influence mattered to prominent people in the industry, whether they worked with him or not.
We all know about Apple. And Nissan. And Energizer. And Taco Bell.
But what’s behind Clow is care, heart and humanity that created a generation of talent who continue to elevate the work. People like Colleen DeCourcy, Gerry Graf, Keene, Rob Schwartz, David Angelo, Chuck McBride, Craig Allen, Rick Boyko and Jason Sperling gleaned essential lessons that they still use to this day.
“My feeling now is that I have a big, extended family of people for whom, in one way or another, I influenced their lives, careers, and talent,” said Clow. “Some formed agencies, some became directors, and I feel responsible and proud of all of them.”
Yes, Clow is “officially” retiring, but he really isn’t going anywhere. He’ll continue to work with TBWA’s For Good, will serve as chairman emeritus for TBWA/Media Arts Lab (MAL) and is working on an autobiographical film.
“I’m proud of the work I did and the brand I built, but I’m also very proud of the way I treated people and the way they still feel about me after all these years working with volatile, creative people,” said Clow. “Most respect me, and some of them love me, but I don’t think anyone ended up disliking me. I’m most proud that I’ve been around for five decades, and I don’t have anyone saying, ‘Lee Clow’s an asshole.’”
Indeed, Lee. And we’re looking forward to the next, brilliant act.
Outside of this big news, there were some moves afoot.
On the upside: VW named Johannes Leonardo its lead creative agency in the U.S., Realtor.com sent its account to Huge, GM shuffled some biz to Publicis, Nintendo’s U.S. media biz went to Initiative and IPG did pretty well in 2018.
On the downside: McCann went through some layoffs due to GM’s “restructuring,” and Omnicom had a little swoon.
Ogilvy restructured. Again.
Did you know that 30 of the biggest ad spenders in the U.S. put their creative accounts in review in 2018? Now you do.
Stop what you’re doing for a moment. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Good. Our own Lindsay Rittenhouse got to go behind the scenes with Glow at the Westminster Dog Show!! Doggos!!!
Who says the AOR is dying? Kroger doesn’t think so and is looking for its first-ever creative AOR.
Oh, Martin.
While we’re at it, we invite you to visit our sister site, AgencySpy, for more news and tidbits from the agency world. If you’re already an avid reader, we thank you for the support.
We’ll see you back here next week. And, as always, feel free to share your agency news with us—I can be reached at doug dot zanger at adweek dot com.
Pitchers and catchers have reported to Spring Training. Go Phillies!
Warm Regards,
Doug Zanger
Senior Editor, Creativity + Agencies
