e (39 page)

As you may know, Zoë is “at a funeral” (!!!) today. While I would normally cover for her, I am up to my eyeballs organising Si for his trip to Mauritius. Perhaps for once you can fend for yourselves, secretarially speaking.

	David Crutton – 1/7/00, 10:01am
to:	Daniel Westbrooke
cc:
re:	Kimbelle

You owe me an explanation – a fucking good one. I’ve just got off the phone to the Marketing Director at Kimbelle, who’s fired us. She claims she’s waited eight weeks for us to schedule a presentation on Super Dri. I suggested we would be delighted to show her work this very afternoon (do we even have any?) but she’s already seeing presentations from other agencies. Why wasn’t I aware of this problem? And if your answer is that neither were you, why the fuck not? You are in charge of
Client Services.
Do I have to show you a dictionary to explain what that means? This account represented a substantial 250k of revenue, much of which went towards your bonus last year. You’d better cancel the swimming pool you’re having built because you won’t receive a brass farthing at the end of this fiscal. My office, now.

	David Crutton – 1/7/00, 10:20am
to:	All Departments
cc:	[email protected]
re:	Kimbelle

After a great deal of agonising we have decided to resign the Kimbelle Panty Pads business due to irreconcilable creative differences. Over the last few weeks we have presented them with a
number of groundbreaking campaigns, to no avail. It has become increasingly apparent that we would not be able to agree without compromising our creativity. In consequence, we have decided that it would be against the founding principles of Miller Shanks to give this client creative product in which we did not wholeheartedly believe. A parting of the ways was therefore inevitable. We wish them well in their search for a new agency.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who worked so hard on this difficult account to produce so much excellent work.

The good news is that there are a number of sanpro brands out there begging for the unique Miller Shanks approach. Now we are free of Kimbelle, let’s go to it and win one!

David Crutton

CEO

	Brett Topowlski – 1/7/00, 10:27am
to:	Liam O’Keefe
cc:
re:	off the rag!

Whoopee! We don’t have to sort out your dog’s mess on Kimbelle after all. And to think I was going to haul pad and pen all the way to Mauritius to wrestle with that one. How am I going to fill the time now? Can’t imagine. I did mention that we were going to
Mauritius
didn’t I?

	Daniel Westbrooke – 1/7/00, 10:35am
to:	David Crutton
cc:
re:	Kimbelle

David, your anger over this fiasco is totally justified. As I told you, I was as surprised as you to learn we had difficulties on this. Rest assured that the guilty party has been identified and a severe reprimand is on its way.

James Gregory will not be so cocksure in the future.

I promise that, so long as I remain in a senior position at Miller Shanks, this will not happen again. Perhaps in my capacity as Head
of Client Services I could instigate a working party to look into “early warning systems” to prevent a reoccurrence.

If you are agreeable, I shall make this a priority the instant I return from Mauritius.

	Rachel Stevenson – 1/7/00, 10:40am
to:	All Departments
cc:
re:	Chandra Kapoor

After ten years with the company, Chandra has decided to leave to spend more time with his family. Chandra was our first Head of IT and can take credit for making Miller Shanks a part of the digital revolution.

We will miss him and wish him well in the future.

Until a permanent replacement is appointed, Peter Renquist will take over as Acting Head of IT. Please support him in this challenging role.

Rachel Stevenson

Personnel

	Katie Philpott – 1/7/00, 11:07am
to:	Liam O’Keefe
cc:
re:	awesome!!!

Wow, you were brill in that presentation! Still got goosebumps. – Katie P

	Harriet Greenbaum – 1/7/00, 11:10am
to:	David Crutton
cc:
re:	Mako

Sorry to hear about Kimbelle, but here’s some good news. Mako went very well. Top line: client extremely happy; bought all work
without change; Pinki and Liam excellent; Simon quiet throughout. I’ll debrief you fully later.

	Simon Horne – 1/7/00, 11:14am
to:	David Crutton
cc:
re:	Mako

Well, I think I managed to save us on this one.

The work was going down like a plumbeous inflatable for all the reasons I had outlined. Basically the client spotted the flaws.

Despite finding myself agreeing with him, I stepped in to bring him round.

He is not convinced of the work, but because he trusts my judgement he is prepared to go along with our recommendation.

At least I have kept our account losses down to one today.

Si

	Harriet Greenbaum – 1/7/00, 11:16am
to:	Pinki Fallon Liam O’Keefe
cc:	Simon Horne David Crutton
re:	Mako