Pros
Great people, plenty of talent below management, and big name clients you won't find elsewhere. The work-life balance is rare for advertising. Surprisingly, DDB still has the building blocks to be the best in Chicago.
Kontras
Management is the worst I've worked for. The CEO is a emotionless robot who has zero interest in advertising and won't say hello to employees in the hallway. Dude, there are only 200 left. You should at least recognize the people who work for you. The CCO is a hack and a bully who wields his power freely. His taste is 1980s pap. He hopes to get away from humor, which is the very thing DDB was built on. They're a scary duo working in tandem for the clients' interests. Because they suck so much, planners are running the place, overthinking every bit of work to death before it ever gets to the client. Beyond that, there's no desire to retain talent other than the chosen few. In fact, there's a weird vibe that if you profess a desire for more money or opportunity, you're a traitor who must go.