It's like the big bang. Eventually the universe will collapse back upon itself into a singularity and then explode all over again. The same thing happens in the economic cycle. After a downturn, it makes sense to consolidate administrative and buying functions so everyone buys each other and merges. When the economy gets good again, small upstarts come into the picture and chisel away at the giant company's profit margins. When the economy goes bad again, the smaller companies go out of business or get bought.

In that case, may I borrow your stapler? And a pen? Do you have any bottled water? Are you buying lunch today? I'm totally out of post-it notes... Order me some, please! That'd be great.

What's so ironic, in a way, is that one of the major arguments in favor of holding companies is to bring more stability to the industry. Yet, in the past two decades, we've seen two major holding companies completely collapse (Saatchi & Saatchi and now IPG), and another determine that major players in the industry could no longer be supported (DMB&B and Ayer). Of course, the big question (now almost a cliché) is whether there is a built-in limit to how much the advertising industry can consolidate before clients sensitive to client conflicts will balk. As it stands now, the P&Gs of the world will never be satisfied hiring an advertising holding company that also works for its competition (never mind that their army of management consultants already do -- that's the subject of another thread). So there's a limit to this madness, but every time I think we've reached it, the remaining holding companies up the ante.

Marc, I need you to be vice president of the USA, plus the other hand that holds Tom's hand to make sure it's steady.

I think Tom is left-handed though. Maybe I can be your right hand man.

In the end it will end up being just WPP! I will be King (plus President of the USA), and my pal Tom will be my right hand man (in that order).

Don't forget I worked at Chiat/Day San Francisco, too.

Tom, I sense a bit of bitterness. Perhaps if you spent a little more time working on Exit 3a and less time galavanting on internet chat boards trying to impress young ladies with your "I used to work at Wieden" schtick, you'd have $6 billion to buy your own holding company.

The most effective way to control the population is through a central government. Likewise, the most effective way to control power/money is through a central holding company. Both exist to the detriment of individualism and ideas. Welcome to the New Order. Get in line, please.

dont large agencies kinda defeat the meaning of an agency? I mean it just seems a little politically corporate to me. furthermore, as consolildation continues thereby creating a lack of competition, what do you suppose will happen to creativity? i think this type of industry could foster a compliant and apathetic creative enviornment.