UPDATE: Initiative’s Melissa Fein, Sam Geer, and Chris Colter confirm move to Accenture Song
UPDATE: Accenture Song has confirmed it has hired Melissa Fein, Chris Colter and Sam Geer from Initiative.
In a statement given to Mumbrella on Friday morning, Accenture said the appointments will “support Accenture Song’s promise to create impact for clients through the integration of creativity, technology and media, and will significantly enhance and expand the existing media services offered to Song’s clients in ANZ”.
The comments above do not apply to Chris Colter. I have never met anyone who teaches and elevates young strategists like Colts. He is brilliant, gives back to our industry selflessly, and has time for everyone. One of the good guys! Deserves his new 10x salary, haha.
Good on them. They built a big brand for the 3 of them over the last 5 years. It worked for IPG until it didn’t. I hope now the team behind them are able to be more recognised publicly and internally.
There have been rumblings of these 3 talented individuals leaving to start something for a while. I’m disappointed it’s this, a big salary and the chance to make a global consultancy born out of an ethical dilemma even bigger. What a missed opportunity to create something fresh and new and for yourselves.
You’d imagine the IPG legal team are checking the fiduciary duty clause in the CEO contract….
And hanging ‘their’ people at Initiative out to dry.
You’d also imagine Accenture’s legal seating IPG’s team for breakfast
these three definitely took $500k each as a base. and the monkeys are smart because these three will basically turn all of initiatives ex clients into new creative monkey clients and media once the non competes wear off.
Ha! The same values this leadership team had when they gushed about their shared beliefs with Crown casino.
The bloody funny thing is that IPG is the true legend in this tale. Am I the only one noticing these folks have been slogging it out building up their own personal brand by milking Initiative’s brand and teams? Awards and smiles hogging the limelight on the stage while a bunch of poor stressed blokes are doing all the real donkey work in the background. Good on ya, Accenture. You’ll need all the luck you can get 😉
While I think Colts and Sam are incredible talent and human beings, it’s a shame that 3 of the leadership team are leaving so many who worked under them in the lurch with this move, especially considering the loss of some big clients recently.
It isn’t a good look for their current clients and the team that works so hard in keeping the place afloat while the leaders seek their own recognition and awards.
Good luck Accenture, all that glitters is not gold.
No Danny Bonus at Accenture I suspect
Not to mention their clients. Not a great look for our industry
A big gain for Song. If Song can offer more than IPG, so be it… the traditional agency model is diminishing in value… IPG should have created a succession model and wouldn’t have any issues..
Chill jimmy