VIEW FROM THE TOP
In the old days (five years ago), it was simple. We made ads. Consumers bought products. The dialog was one way. Enter digital: Everything changes. Consumers find their own information. Entertain themselves. And talk (a lot) to each other about how products perform.
The chatter began: Traditional advertising is dead. Agencies deserved it, we were out of the conversation.
At Grey, we've changed, made digital our partner and aim to lead our industry in the new two-way dialogue we call "tradigital." That requires a central, motivating idea. In a world of instant access and speed, the idea is the most valuable asset in communications. Everything else is just execution.
At Grey, our mission is: "To generate world-class creative ideas that accelerate the potential of brands." Ideas, not ads. It's the idea that touches consumers with fundamental human truths. And adds value to brands.
We celebrate the consumer's humanity, demoting demographics to the wings. After all, I use toothpaste, fly on planes, eat peanut butter and jelly and, on occasion, take cold medicine; four products, but only one of me. We seek to amplify fundamental human truths in everything we do and extend those truths into the "Brand Worlds" we create. In the end, we believe it's "Humans First, Consumers Second."
To succeed in this environment, we seek talented people who demonstrate intellectual curiosity, who are is bored on the path most traveled, who have intense interests beyond advertising (including a tattoo artist and a Rock Paper Scissors world champion—yes, apparently there is an international competition!). When we find passionate people, we grab them and encourage them to bring their passion to Grey.
In the end, we have a simple phrase that sums it all up for us: "Grey. Anything But."
Steve Hardwick
President
Grey New York
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
Grey is a collaborative community of intellect and talent. Our currency is ideas. We thrive on imagination, passion and leadership. Our titles may vary and our expertise differ, but we all share the same job: generating ideas that add value to clients' brands. We look for people who crave the opportunity to work in a collaborative and idea-driven culture.
We want people who are:
- INTELLECTUALLY CURIOUS You have more questions than you have answers, enjoy digging for the truth, leave no stone unturned, refuse pat answers, fearlessly pursue the right solution; you've been a "yes, but" student and relentless questioner all your life.
- STATUS QUO-DISTRESSED You always look to make things better. You suggest ideas even when you haven't been asked and go the extra mile when no one would complain if you stopped halfway.
- DEEPLY INTERESTED You are passionate about playing the guitar, writing your own songs, running for office or volunteering as a Big Brother. You know every Yankee's RBI percentage, every award winner at Sundance, every show on Broadway or prime-time hit, or have a deep interest in current news and the latest—whatever. If you'd rather be in the center of popular culture than idle on the sidelines, chances are you will understand the hearts and minds our clients want to touch.
- COLLABORATIVE You love to be part of a team, to work with others toward a common goal. Share the credit when the team wins and the pain when it doesn't. You know when to lead and when to listen, and are as proud of your teammates' success as you are of your own.
WHY WE WORK HERE
"I started in broadcast production, which at some agencies is treated like a vendor. At Grey, I've been encouraged to stretch, be a partner in the creative process, become a leader in an experimental, multiplatform creative lab and present offbeat ideas to some heavyweight marketers. I'm working on a project that links a comedy tour, a major brand, hygiene-challenged dorm rooms and the world's larger ills. Besides, I met my wife at Grey (a very good thing, just to be clear)."
—Bennett McCarroll, senior VP-executive producer/director (creative)
"I came to Grey 18 years ago for what I expected to be the agency equivalent of boot camp: I figured account management on P&G would be the ideal place to do basic training (even if it wasn't that much fun). So imagine my surprise when I discovered that I could create a career around indulging my inner beauty junkie at the agency that's helped build some of the most iconic beauty brands in the world: first Revlon, then Pantene, Cover Girl, Max Factor, Clairol. Incredible brands in categories I love, inspirational people, plenty of room to grow—it's been a winning combination so far!"
—Debby Reiner, exec VP-group director (account management)
"I came to Grey five years ago from JWT and, before that, DDB (on Budweiser) to work on Dairy Queen, and to see if I could do some great work for an agency missing a reputation for doing great work. I'm staying because I am proud of the DQ work I've done over the years, and I believe it is a step in the right direction toward making Grey the next turnaround story like Saatchi."
—Ari Halper, senior VP-creative director (creative)
Contact: Talent Development
E-Mail: careers@grey.com Phone: 212-546-2000
Website: www.grey.com
GREY AT A GLANCE
Headquarters:
777 Third Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10017
212-546-2000
www.grey.com
Offices: 148 cities in 97 countries; U.S. offices in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles
Clients: Procter & Gamble, GlaxoSmithKline, Diageo, Olive Garden, Eli Lilly & Co., Dairy Queen, 3M, Canon, Frontier Airlines, Smucker's, Playtex, Wyeth
Capabilities: Advertising; activation marketing (direct, interactive, shopper, branding & design); entertainment, healthcare, Hispanic, youth marketing; public relations; and media services
Awards: Addys, Cannes Lions, Clios, Effies, Emmys and others
Jobs: Account management, artist, copywriter, planner, producer, others
Big, popular ideas: "Easy, Breezy, Beautiful Cover Girl"; Olive Garden: "When You're Here, You're Family"; Jif: "Choosy Moms Choose Jif"; Panasonic: "Ideas for Life"; Pantene: "Hair so Healthy, It Shines"; Nokia: "Connecting People"; Kraft's Kool-Aid Man; DQ: "Something Different"
