Sources familiar with Publicis in the West have confirmed that the agency’s director of strategic planning, Kevin May, is no longer working at the shop. A reason for his departure was not provided, though we understand the agency is keeping the matter close to the vest.
Rumor has it that T-Mobile CEO Robert Dodson has trouble letting his CMOs do their job and in the last four years has had five different people in that position. Inside PWest, GM Randy Browning and CCO Bob Moore may be inadvertently making their account executives feel out of place because Dodson will only speak with them.
This isn’t the first high-level exit at the west coast office, though we haven’t been able to confirm much else than that. Our sources make it sound like people are running for the doors but in reality that seems unlikely. Who in this market would leave without somewhere to go or guaranteed severance? Furthermore we know T-Mobile just re-upped their contract with the agency and will be around for at least another couple years.
Not the point, really. But the perceived shakiness of the T-Mobile account, of which we’ve heard numerous whisperings, seems to have some folks looking elsewhere. Must be one of those hard-to-handle accounts. And of those leaving the agency, many over the last few years have been senior level executives on the T-Mobile account, so take it for what you will.
Updates to come.
More: “Doner & Mazda, Publicis West & T-Mobile, PHD & Schwab Media; a Tip Round-up”