A Room With A View

Like keeping a performance-artist cousin away from the new in-laws, many agencies are reluctant to invite their creative director into a meeting with the client CEO. It’s as if the cataclysm would obliterate everyone in the room—a cross-wiring between left and right brains such as the world has never known. Heads would roll.

I’m sure there’s a good reason. Not so long ago, when Vlad the Arrogant would tell the CEO that he didn’t need to hear about financial goals because that had nothing to do with creating an “iiiiiimage” for the brand, the consequences were enormous.