McCann Erickson

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McCann (before McCann - Erickson)
Type Subsidiary
Industry Advertising, Marketing
Founded 1902 (1902) (Erickson)
1912 (1912) (H. K. McCann)
1930 (1930) (merger)
Headquarters U.S.
Parent Interpublic Group
Website www.mccann.com

McCann is a global advertising agency network, with offices in 120 countries. McCann is a subsidiary of the Interpublic Group of Companies, one of the four large holding companies in the advertising industry.[1]

McCann Erickson was named "Global Agency of the Year" by Adweek in 1998, 1999 and 2000.[2] McCann Erickson is part of McCann Worldgroup, which also includes planning and buying agency Universal McCann, direct/interactive web marketing agency MRM//McCann, experiential marketing agency Momentum Worldwide, healthcare marketing group McCann Healthcare Worldwide, branding firm FutureBrand and public-relations and strategic-communications agency Weber Shandwick.[3]

McCann Erickson was responsible for the success of The Hillside Singers' "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" in 1972 and was also the company that developed the "Army Strong" campaign for the United States Army. The company also developed the MasterCard commercial saying "There are some things money can't buy. For everything else, there's MasterCard," as well as the Rice-a-Roni jingle (based on a 1923 song, Barney Google).[4] Haddon Sundblom is often attributed as having created the modern depiction of Santa Claus in 1931 working on McCann's Coca-Cola account.[5] They also developed the Gold Blend couple advertisements for Nescafé.

Credo

Timeline[edit]

  • 1902: Alfred Erickson forms his own advertising agency in New York City.
  • 1912: Harrison King McCann, along with four partners, launches H.K. McCann Co, and introduces the credo "Truth Well Told".
  • 1927: McCann opens offices in Paris, Berlin and London.
  • 1930: McCann and Erickson merge companies.
  • 1935: Latin American offices open in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.
  • 1957: McCann became the first U.S. advertising agency to bill $100 million in TV and radio sales.
  • 1959: Australian office opens, as well as European offices in Italy, Netherlands and Switzerland.
  • 1960: The company is organised into four independent operating units reporting into McCann Erickson, Inc. (later to become the Interpublic Group in 1961). Office opens in Japan.
  • 1964: The Spanish government of Francisco Franco hires the agency to improve its image in the United States.[6]
  • 1973: McCann International and McCann US reunite into the single agency McCann Erickson Worldwide.
  • 1997: McCann Worldgroup formed, includes: McCann Erickson Worldwide, Universal McCann and what would become MRM//McCann, Momentum, McCann Healthcare Worldwide, Weber Shandwick and FutureBrand.

In popular culture[edit]

In the AMC series Mad Men, Sterling Cooper and its parent company, Putnam, Powell and Lowe, are acquired by McCann Erickson, leading Don Draper to help start a new agency rather than be part of what he calls a "sausage factory."[7] Responding to the show, the ad company bought space in Adweek, Brandweek, and Mediaweek reading, "Welcome, Sterling Cooper," which was signed, "Your friends at McCann Erickson."[8] Later in the series, Roger Sterling renegotiates the sale of Sterling Cooper to McCann as an independent subsidiary.

Notable former employees include Theodor Seuss Geisel, best known to the world as Dr. Seuss, and President Ronald Reagan's brother, Neil Reagan, who was senior vice president of McCann Erickson.[9][10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Elliott, Stuart (September 2, 1997). "McCann-Erickson Wins Hotel Account". New York Times. 
  2. ^ "McCannWorldGroup". McCann WorldGroup. 
  3. ^ O'Leary, Noreen (February 28, 2013). "Fast Chat: McCann Worldgroup's Luca Lindner Says advertising is about 'risk, tears and smiling'". Adweek. 
  4. ^ Finz, Stacy (July 16, 2006). "Rice-a-Redux:Once again it's the San Francisco treat". San Francisco Chronicle. 
  5. ^ "The True History of the Modern Day Santa Claus". TheCocaColaCompany.com. January 1, 2012. 
  6. ^ Payne, S.G. The Franco Regime: 1936-1975. Madison: University of Wisconsin, 1987. p 530.
  7. ^ Edwards Jim (August 16, 2010). "Why Ad Agency McCann Can't Stop AMC's Mad Men From Bashing Its Good Name". CBS News. 
  8. ^ Elliott, Stuart (November 17, 2009). "McCann Responds to ‘Mad Men’". New York Times. 
  9. ^ Parekh, Rupal (March 29, 2010). "Value Of McCann's Industry Influence? Priceless". AdAge. 
  10. ^ Holloway, Lynette (December 13, 1996). "Neil Reagan, 88, Ad Executive And Jovial Brother of President". New York Times. 

External links[edit]

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