Contract rumored
to be worth
$4 billion
over next 10 years
Look alive, maggots… err, Chicago. DDB Chicago has landed the lucrative United States Army as an account.
According to Ad Age, the Chicago-based agency will spin off a new dedicated shop much like it did for McDonald’s with We Are Unlimited.
Sources say, the new agency will be called “Team DDB,” led by DDB Chicago, and will include personnel from other Omnicom shops, including OMD, Critical Mass, Annalect, The Marketing Arm, FleishmanHillard, Fluent 360, and Rapp.
This represents an enormous win not only for DDB but Chicago in general, as the account was at Leo Burnett in the early 2000’s.
ALSO READ: DDB adds Lyons and Russo for top US strategy roles
However, not everyone is thrilled about the decision. According to multiple reports, New York-based and incumbent AOR McCann is continuing an appeal to hold on to at least part of the account.
McCann had the account for the last 12 years, but in 2017 was accused of compromising the account review process because of a personal relationship between James Ortiz, director of marketing at the Army Marketing and Research Group, and a former McCann executive.
Then an internal Army audit, released this past summer, revealed millions in wasteful spending. According to an Adweek article, the publication acquired emails that had Army Marketing and Research execs accusing McCann of overcharging.
REEL360 reached out to a DDB spokeswoman, but has yet to hear back.
Congrats to DDB. The REEL360 team salutes you.
Source: Ad Age
