The agreement with Omnicom will likely head off the threat of potentially embarrassing hearings set for next week, when the industry celebrates its third annual Advertising Week
The agreement will likely head off the threat of potentially embarrassing hearings set for next week, when the industry celebrates its third annual Advertising Week. The commission subpoenaed a number of New York agency chiefs as part of an investigation into the industry's historical struggles in building diverse workforces. Among them were executives from Omnicom-owned agencies BBDO, DDB, Merkley & Partners and PHD.
The commission has said previously that hearings would go on only for agencies that haven't signed agreements with the commission. Commission spokeswoman Betsy Herzog declined to comment.
Omnicom, the No. 1 ad-agency holding company, had been alone in balking at the commission's demands. Earlier this month 11 agencies from Interpublic Group of Cos., WPP Group and Publicis Groupe signed memoranda of understanding with the commission in which they agreed to create goals for diversity hiring that will be reported publicly to the commission.
Instead of striking a deal with the commission, Omnicom brokered one with New York City Councilman Larry Seabrook. It pledged more than $1 million for a program that includes the creation of advertising, marketing and media curriculum at the historically black Medgar Evers College. That program is still in the works, despite today's news.
"Our agreements with both the City Council and City Commission assure a long-term commitment that we believe will be tangible and effective in generating long-term solutions," said Omnicom President-CEO John Wren in a release.
Mr. Seabrook is inviting industry executives to hearings on Sept. 26 on the diversity issue and ad-spending in minority-owned media.
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