Rubin Postaer + Associates’ Chicago office is merging with Euro RSCG Chicago.
The Santa Monica-based agency will keep a field office in the Chicago market in order to help service its Honda and Acura business. The remainder of accounts, and staff, are headed to Euro RSCG in a move that seems likely to benefit all parties.
Larry Postaer and Gerry Rubin are the founders and principals of RPA. Steffan Postaer, president and chief creative officer of Euro RSCG Chicago is Larry Postaer’s son.
I can almost hear Lewis Lazare of the Sun Times now. “Nepotism reigns supreme in back room deal” he might care to say. My reaction is less politically charged. Not only is this type of deal an example of how things work in the real world, Larry Postaer can sleep well at night, knowing his son is hard at work taking care of his former associates and clients.
It will be interesting to see if Postaer can do anything with RSCG. Not having Altoids to fall back on means he will have to do something new.
And that has always been a problem with the former Tatham agency. Good luck and a big huge Merry Christmas to him.
Steffan gave me my FIRST EVER post-college advertising job interview back in 1989 at Leo Burnett. 2-3 weeks later I started working there, though sadly, it was in a different group.
He’s a great man. I think his success is completely deserved. Not everybody I would say that about.
About a year after I got hired we were at Danny’s Bar in Bucktown. He was feeling a bit burnt out on the whole advertising scene (happens to us all, all too frequently); he was crying into his beer, telling me how one of these days he would love to write a novel.
Well, I’m happy to say, he did it. You may notice his book now being advertised, on a blogad on my website.
Yeah, so his job is tough and he no longer has Altoids. If the job was going to be easy, they would’ve hired me or you instead.
Rock on, Steff!
While I am certain that Mr. Postaer is a decent chap and a wildly talented creative, Mr. Hogg does pose an interesting question. The Altoids stuff was terrific, no doubt about it. But what other notable work has he done? When you think about it, most creatives of his stature have been associated with at leas three or four memorable campaigns. But outside of Altoids, I can’t think of anything else Mr. Postaer has done. (And let me hasten to add that he has probably achieved more in one afternoon than I will in my entire career, so I’m not comparing myself to him or taking a cheap shot. I’m just genuinely curious as to what other work he’s done.)
from PR News Wire
“He also brought new life to the Maytag business — literally and conceptually — by creating a new “studly” yet dependable repairman. Postaer’s other career highlights include co-authoring the “Not Your Father’s Olds” campaign for Oldsmobile, and creating the multiple award-winning (including Cannes Gold Lion) Heinz Ketchup spot featuring Matt LeBlanc from the television show Friends.”
Thanks for the research, David.
I must admit, however, that I haven’t seen either the Maytag campaign or the Heinz Ketchup commercial. Which is not to say they aren’t great; I’m sure they are.
As I recall, the Olds campaign was met with a less than rapturous response from both the industry and the public at large. (Feel free to correct me if I am in error.) At least the tagline was memorable.
The guy is definitely brilliant. But it still seems odd that he’s really only known for one campaign.
I may be wrong, but I believe Mr. Postaer’s book is self-published.
Self-published or not, I’d be interested in reading it. The man clearly has talent to spare. (If only he could lend me some.)