The intrepid Ad Age staff has canvassed dozens of sources in every corner of the industry—agencies and adjacencies, brands, media and publishers, and tech companies and platforms—to ask them all the same question: What terrifies you right now?
Christine Fruechte, CEO, Colle McVoy
Short term, I’m scared about the talent that’s quickly fleeing our industry. Or the lack of diverse talent that’s hindering our progress and allows other industries to innovate faster.
Nick Law, chief creative officer, Publicis Groupe; president, Publicis Communications
A world where creatives report to CFOs, consultants, and engineers.
John Moore, global president, MullenLowe Mediahub
I’m not afraid of much and I like to think of myself as a very intrepid person. However, the one thing that I am very afraid of is “the consumer.” Every day, every week and every year, they become more skilled at getting rid of unwanted messages and “noise.” It sets the bar so much higher for both creative and media agencies. This should make all of us very afraid and also pretty fucking excited, as I truly believe the industry is up for the challenge.
Susie Nam, COO, Droga5
It’s been a challenging year in many respects for everyone—industry shifts, politics and much more. What I’ve learned more than ever as a leader in this climate is to try and pause, listen carefully and to think critically. These times may feel more demanding but they also should cause us to dig deeper and make longer-lasting changes for the better—not to just inoculate a headline.
Charles Wigley, chairman, Bartle Bogle Hegarty Asia Pacific
There is nothing to be scared of. We have the privilege of making ads. Light bits of cultural fluff that occasionally get caught by the digital breeze and catch on. We are not doing brain surgery or nursing the sick or trying to get the rest of our troops out alive after a firefight. Anyone who is kept awake at night by the doings of advertising is potentially in need of some form of care.
Source: What Scares Me Right Now… (2018, October 22). AdAge.
Editor’s Note: Quick takes on a panoply of topics – Part 1, Agencies & Adjacencies (more in the following issues).