Howard Draft is stoked.
According to Ad Age, Interpublic has finalized plans to merge two of its largest units, the marketing-services agency Draft and traditional ad agency FCB.
The combined unit will be called the Draft FCB Group, with Howard Draft as the new unit’s chairman-CEO. It marks the end of a 133-year journey for FCB as a stand-alone brand and is another sign of the ascension of a long-marginalized part of the marketing business.
Naturally, Adweek is also running the story. And they feature a Q + A with Draft.
Q. How are the two companies similar?
A. FCB has a Midwest kind of “let’s roll up our sleeves and get it done” mentality and I really want to take advantage of that culture. But we will build a culture of fun, one that rewards people, celebrates success, deals with the issues in an open way.
I wonder how he’ll deal with the ad snobs who simply can’t adjust themselves to the fact they work for a marketing services firm.
