McCann Erickson
Encyclopedia
McCann Erickson is a global advertising agency
network, with offices in more than 130 countries. McCann is a subsidiary of the Interpublic Group of Companies
, one of the four large holding companies
in the advertising industry.
McCann Erickson was named "Global Agency of the Year" by Adweek
in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
McCann Erickson is part of McCann Worldgroup, which also includes planning and buying agency Universal McCann, direct/interactive web marketing agency MRM Worldwide, experiential marketing agency Momentum Worldwide, healthcare marketing group McCann Healthcare Worldwide, branding firm FutureBrand and public-relations and strategic-communications agency Weber Shandwick.
McCann Erickson was responsible for the success of The Hillside Singers
' "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
" in 1972. McCann Erickson 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
).
, Sterling Cooper and its parent company are acquired by McCann Erickson, leading Don Draper
to start his own firm rather than be part of what he calls a "sausage factory."
President Ronald Reagan's brother, Neil Reagan
, was senior vice president of McCann Erickson.
Advertising agency
An advertising agency or ad agency is a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients. An ad agency is independent from the client and provides an outside point of view to the effort of selling the client's products or services...
network, with offices in more than 130 countries. McCann is a subsidiary of the Interpublic Group of Companies
Interpublic Group of Companies
The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. is one of the "big four" global advertising holding companies . Headquartered in New York City, it has 41,000 employees and reported full−year revenues of US$6.5 billion for 2010...
, one of the four large holding companies
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
in the advertising industry.
McCann Erickson was named "Global Agency of the Year" by Adweek
Adweek
Adweek is a weekly American advertising trade publication that was first published in 1978....
in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
McCann Erickson is part of McCann Worldgroup, which also includes planning and buying agency Universal McCann, direct/interactive web marketing agency MRM Worldwide, experiential marketing agency Momentum Worldwide, healthcare marketing group McCann Healthcare Worldwide, branding firm FutureBrand and public-relations and strategic-communications agency Weber Shandwick.
McCann Erickson was responsible for the success of The Hillside Singers
The Hillside Singers
The Hillside Singers were an American folk group. The ensemble was assembled by advertising agency McCann Erickson for the purposes of singing in a television commercial...
' "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
"I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing " is a popular song which originated as a jingle in the groundbreaking 1971 "Hilltop" television commercial for Coca-Cola. The song, produced by Billy Davis and performed by The New Seekers, portrayed a positive message of hope and love sung by a multicultural...
" in 1972. McCann Erickson was also the company that developed the "Army Strong" campaign for the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. The company also developed the MasterCard
MasterCard
Mastercard Incorporated or MasterCard Worldwide is an American multinational financial services corporation with its headquarters in the MasterCard International Global Headquarters, Purchase, Harrison, New York, United States...
commercial saying "There are some things money can't buy. For everything else, there's MasterCard," as well as the Rice-a-Roni
Rice-A-Roni
Rice-A-Roni is a product of PepsiCo's subsidiary, the Quaker Oats Company. It is a boxed food mix that consists of rice, vermicelli pasta, and seasonings. To prepare, the rice and pasta are browned in butter, then water and seasonings are added and simmered until absorbed.-History:In 1895,...
jingle (based on a 1923 song, Barney Google
Barney Google
Barney Google and Snuffy Smith, originally Barney Google, is a long-running American comic strip created by cartoonist Billy DeBeck . Since its debut on June 17, 1919, the strip has gained a huge international readership, appearing in 900 newspapers in 21 countries...
).
Timeline
- 1902: Alfred Erickson forms his own advertising agency in Manhattan, USA.
- 1912: Harry McCann, along with four partners, launches H.K. McCann Co, introducing the still used 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 FrancoFrancisco FrancoFrancisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
hires the agency to improve its image in the United States. - 1973: McCann International and McCann US reunite into the single agency McCann Erickson Worldwide.
- 1997: McCann Worldgroup formed, includes: McCann Erickson Worldwide, Universal McCannUM (company)UM is the global media company formerly known as Universal McCann. UM's global clients include ABInBev, BASF, Brown-Forman, Burberry, Cathay Pacific, Chrysler, Coca-Cola, ExxonMobil, GM, Johnson & Johnson, L'Oréal, Mastercard, Microsoft, SC Johnson, and Sony...
and what would become MRM Worldwide, Momentum, McCann Healthcare Worldwide, Weber Shandwick and FutureBrand.
In popular culture
In the AMC series Mad MenMad Men
Mad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each...
, Sterling Cooper and its parent company are acquired by McCann Erickson, leading Don Draper
Don Draper
Donald "Don" Draper is a fictional character and the protagonist of AMC's television series Mad Men. He is portrayed by 2008 Golden Globe winner Jon Hamm. Until the third season finale, Draper was Creative Director of Manhattan advertising firm Sterling Cooper...
to start his own firm rather than be part of what he calls a "sausage factory."
President Ronald Reagan's brother, Neil Reagan
Neil Reagan
John Neil Reagan was a radio station manager, CBS senior producer and senior vice president of McCann Erickson. He is the older brother of Ronald Reagan....
, was senior vice president of McCann Erickson.