EXCLUSIVE: A Conversation with the Five Holding Company CEOs.

AD AGED:
Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. It's not every day you get the five titans of advertising, none of whom have ever created an ad, together in one place to discuss events in the world and the industry itself.

TITANS:

AD AGED:
Let's jump right in. Why no "not behind the paywall" statements about the slaughter perpetrated by Hamas terrorists on Israelis. The rapes. The beheadings. The hostage-takings. The slaughter?

TITANS:

AD AGED:
You seem very vocal when other groups are concerned. Silent when it involves Jews. Jews, who by the way, comprise less than one-percent of the world's population but whom you don't consider a minority. Why?

TITANS:

AD AGED:
Thank you for that. Let's switch gears. Not long ago each of you spoke about eliminating, or at least combatting 'systemic racism' in the ad industry. You pledged a lot of money. How about a progress report? How is the industry doing? How about some statistics on hiring--and systemic changes you've made to combat systemic racism? 

TITANS:

AD AGED:
For instance, how much money do you spend on awards shows and self-promotion as opposed to ameliorating systemic racism?

How many people of color have you hired?

And more personally, though they represent roughly 20-percent of the world's population, why are people 50 and older so scarce within the ad industry--except perhaps among this esteemed panel itself?

TITANS:

AD AGED:
In the industry, we talk a lot about 'transparency' and 'accountability,' how about it?

Yesterday, after writing a piece on the silence of the industry vis a vis Hamas' terrorism and slaughter in Israel, this blog got over 40,000 views, which in a small industry is a lot. Yet, you, the ostensible leaders of the industry, remained as silent as Mt. Rushmore. Do you care now to say something?

TITANS:

AD AGED:
I see, thank you.

Let's switch gears. In the last ten years, the largest of the holding companies has shed roughly half of its employees--you've gone from 200,000 FTEs to about 115,000. Do you care to comment on the long-term viability of your conglomerate and the industry itself?

TITANS:

AD AGED:
That's all we have time for this morning.

I thank you--the people who work for you thank you--for your openness, honesty and candor.

I'll see you at Cannes.