Every organization has set goals, a vision and a mission statement that guide the organization as it strives to achieve its objectives. However, for a company to be able to achieve that, several things must be put in place. For instance, it is imperative that the organization has proper management. On top of that there are other departments that an organization must have that contribute to the success of the organization. Some of these departments are sales and marketing, public and customer relations human resource, and advertising among others. Advertising is the means by which an organization not only informs the public of the various products and or services that they offer, but also they persuade them to acquire the same. There are so many ways in which advertisement may be done. Mostly, it is done through major media of communication like newspapers, radios, televisions, and billboards to mention but a few.
DDB Company
Advertising has been done for a long time but DDB has been there longer. Established in 1949, DDB still remains the biggest advertising agency in the world today and has been given international recognition for their services and awarded for it. The services of DDB are spread all over the world with at least 200 offices in more than 90 countries. A report released in 2004 by a survey conducting firm Gutt indicated that as at the time of the publishing and consequent release of that report, DDB was rated as the world’s most and highly awarded advertising agency. A company’s or organization’s success greatly depends or is determined by the management of that company. DDB has made it big in professional management. It would therefore be almost impossible to mention DDB Company without mentioning the man who has been at its helm for a couple of years now, and who has taken the company even to greater heights; Keith L. Reinhard.
Keith L Reinhard
Reinhard started off as a Chicago ad man for and worked for many years in that capacity. He had always been very focused and had always desired to transform the advertising industry. Reinhard had always felt that the advertising industry did not do enough to satisfy the customers and more so disliked the manner in which advertising was carried out. Born on the 20th of January 1935, the 73 year old chairman of DDB has made significant contributions to the world of advertisement. He became part of a triumvirate of agency leaders who joined together and formed Omnicom in 1986 with the concurrent merger of BBDO, DDB and Needham Worldwide. From early days while in school, Reinhard had always had a passion for business and marketing and advertisement to be specific. His major role in the establishment of Omnicom may be said to have been his first major breakthrough of his advertising career. Reinhard has greatly influenced the world of advertising and has made quite a number of changes that have helped improve the world of the advertisement. Advertising Age has referred to Reinhard as the advertising industry's ''soft-spoken visionary'' and in 1999 named him among the top 100 industry influentials in advertising history. The Wall Street Journal has included Reinhard in its ''Creative Leaders Campaign.''
Reinhard’s Vision
The vision that Reinhard has always had is to completely transform the advertising industry, making it flexible to fit the various needs of clients worldwide. In addition, advertising must accommodate every client, both local and international, individuals and big organizations. As already mentioned, right from school days, Reinhard was determined to bring considerable changes to advertising as a career. He therefore studied courses that were business related and this gave him a suitable background with which he has over the years used to improve the world of advertisement.
Reinhard is the man behind ''You Deserve a Break Today'' and was instrumental in winning back the McDonald’s business in 1998. Besides having taken business related courses back in school, it is also clear that Keith had skills of creativity that have helped come up with various unique ideas that have contributed greatly to the growth of the advertising industry. Keith, having gained early recognition due to his numerous contributions in the advertising field the world over, has held many leadership, executive and senior positions in various large organizations where he has also extended his creativity.
Achievements
Reinhard believes that creativity can transform dust to a valuable asset. It is probably his optimism coiled together with his skills and creativity that has enabled him to go to greater heights and more so lead DDB to the current position that it is today. In 2001 Reinhard began an initiative that was geared to improving the diplomacy of the American business. He currently heads that initiative known as Business for Diplomatic Action as its president. He also co-chairs the Jazz committee of marketing and is also an executive board member of John Hopkins Medicine and also sits in the advisory council of the same company.
For some time now Reinhard has also been involved in efforts of restoring the image of America which he believes is lost and has actually been trashed. In a recent interview Reinhard stated that with the expansion of DDB Company there was a lot of diversification of cultures that needed to be harmonized to promote a harmonious working environment. DDB, being a global and international organization of harmonization of cultures to enable all the stake holders to work together, was one of the noblest things that Reinhard did as it contributed to the growth of DDB as a company and also the growth of the advertising industry.
Keith Reinhard’s journey to leadership has not always been a success story. Keith confirms the presence of many challenges and hindrances that he has faced in his career even while at the helm of DDB. Besides the diversification of cultures that make up DDB, there have been many other challenges. Some very widespread notions and perceptions are that the company has made it big due to exploitation. Reinhard has had to deal with similar challenges ensuring that the image of the company is maintained and any loopholes dealt with
Besides all these challenges, Reinhard has made it big and most CEOs even of big company’s look up to him to be able to run their companies and lead them to success.
