Inspiration meets innovation at Brandweek, the ultimate marketing experience. Join industry luminaries, rising talent and strategic experts in Phoenix, Arizona this September 23–26 to assess challenges, develop solutions and create new pathways for growth. Register early to save.
DDB Needham Worldwide chairman Keith Reinhard had personally worked on Audi advertising since 1986. And so, it seems, he took it a bit personally when the German automaker, the luxury division of Volkswagen, decided to end the 24-year relationship with the agency.
A note dated March 31 from the chairman that circulated inside Needham outlined the agency’s relationship with the car maker. It includes a skewering of the press over Audi’s version of Pearl Harbor, which was the first airing of the 60 Minutes program that depicted tearful and angry Audi owners who had had accidents, and banded together, to charge the company with an engineering miscue that made the Audi 5000 prone to speeding out of control.
While the note from Reinhard carries a tone of loyalty to Audi, and praise for the company’s product, some also view it as somewhat defensive.
WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.
Subscribe today!
To Read the Full Story Become an Adweek+ Subscriber
Already a member? Sign in