Kia’s television ads have always been on the humorous side, but the Korean automaker’s President’s Day campaign apparently wasn’t all that funny to Kia chairman and group CEO, Byung Mo Ahn. A new reports finds that the ad campaign might have cost two executives their jobs.
The President’s Day ad uses relatively unheard of former President Millard Fillmore to promote Kia’s unheard of President’s Day sales. The ad also mentions that Fillmore was the first President to have a running water bath tub in the White House, and Kia used that fact to distribute soap-on-a-rope in the shape of Fillmore’s bust to further promote the campaign.
While the ad campaign is humorous, Ahn felt that it missed the mark because it didn’t promote Kia’s quality and reliability. Apparently Ahn felt so strongly about the ad that two executives were asked to leave the company as a result.
Just five days after Ahn officially took office of his new position, the two men responsible for the ad — Len Hunt, who was recently promoted to president, and Ian Beavis, vice president of marketing overseeing advertising, product planning and public relations — left the company.
While neither Hunt or Beavis were available for comment, it appears as though Mr. Fillmore caused the men to lose their jobs.
02/13, 5:41 PM
posted by:
C6Racer
If Len’s last name were Butthead it would be funny.
“A new reports”…Looks as though LLN has kept their top-notch proof-reader.
02/13, 5:43 PM
posted by:
RicardoHead
Sounds to me like Ahn has got his head up his butt.
Funny ads work, dude. Can’t blame these guys for leaving – who’d want to work for that uptight bastard.
02/13, 5:44 PM
posted by:
Drachen
The worst marketing campaign since ZIL’s Karl Marx Bobblehead fiasco.
02/13, 7:24 PM
posted by:
G
Ummmm … hehehe … ummmmmm … Beavis … why aren’t you at work today, you dumbass? hehehe … ummmm
Is it because, like, you were cool, and got yourself fired, and stuff? hehehehe …. ummmmmmm … like, that’d be cool …. hehehe
02/13, 7:45 PM
posted by:
corvette
….
02/13, 9:56 PM
posted by:
pezones
wtf this aint the far east
lighten up !
loser
02/13, 10:38 PM
posted by:
autonut
Hey, ZIL campaign worked well: none of them were sitting on dealer lots!
I think new prick needed to put two of his own flunky’s on payroll, so two round-eyes were canned in a hurry. Moral: don’t buy fukcing Kio ( I am not aware that anyone did anyway)
02/13, 10:42 PM
posted by:
jdasch1
Boy, those Koreans are a very uptight bunch of idiots. Kia has been hiring and firing for several years now, and Hyandai is chasing Lexus and BMW. Both Korean brands should wake up and get back to the basics of buildng “less expensive than the others” cars and SUV’s…and get a life on what sells in advertising in the US..HUMOR!! On their current course, they are doomed to fail here in North America. Who wants to work for these people next?? Better get a big signing bonus first.
02/13, 10:45 PM
posted by:
F451
As an American, I find the ad offensive at best, if not downright stupid.
02/13, 11:59 PM
posted by:
AxeHead
I hate Korean cars anyways – who cares. I think I’ll buy a GM product and support Lutz and his war on global warming crock of ****.
02/14, 12:00 AM
posted by:
AxeHead
Hey, if Lutz was 10 years older and shot in Black and White he’d look like this president – coincidence?
02/14, 7:31 AM
posted by:
purdue
All executives should face such scrutiny. Give the next guy a shot at NOT f’n up! Plus, the ad biz is such BS. (I know, my wife is in it) Only idiots need to be anything BUT informed by an ad. Entertaining and persuading should be left out. Just tell me what it is, what it is guaranteed to do, where I can buy it, and how much it costs. Video/photos will help me to make up my mind of whether or not I want to investigate the product any further.
02/14, 8:43 AM
posted by:
maximus
I’ve heard of Millard Fillmore so this ad didn’t make sense to me.
02/14, 9:13 AM
posted by:
SwerveEarly
This CEO sounds like a Jerry Jones type, down on the field getting involved with things he knows nothing about. Byung Mo Ahn does sound like a guy that knows jack about the culture he is selling to, he probably thinks Jerry Lewis is funny.
02/14, 10:24 AM
posted by:
sharpie
The top execs should have been fired because they made fun of the wrong president. I nominate dubya to be made fun of. Clinton comes a close second. Alas, they stuff they did was hard to forget.
02/14, 10:33 AM
posted by:
RicardoHead
F451 clearly has never heard the phrase
…… “nobody ever lost money underestimating the intelligence of the average American.”
There isn’t one of our 43 presidents whom I would not tell to blow me. The way the next election is shaping up, make it 44 presidents.
Same goes to 99% of Congress, and anyone who is offended by that can blow me too.
02/14, 10:41 AM
posted by:
SwerveEarly
You cant make fun of U.S. politicians they are doing very important work, spending millions on investigating steroids in baseball.
02/14, 11:15 AM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
hahaha i saw this comercial last nite, nothing worth firing somebody over.
02/14, 11:54 AM
posted by:
MercMark
They should have distributed air fresheners. since their cars stink.
02/14, 4:19 PM
posted by:
Pintac87
The great Cornholio wanted for questioning.