For as long as I've been in the industry, the name "Tham Khai Meng" has meant legend. Sure, rumors abounded. But if we're being honest, rumors (and first-hand experiences that confirmed them) surround many a great in every industry.
To get there you have to work longer hours than most of us already work. And while I'm not excusing his behavior by any means, those lonely nights trapped at the office with attractive juniors who idolize you might just drive a person to reconsider their romantic inclinations... You would do anything for your career and ambitions, which means suppressing your urges and desires, and we all know what happens after prolonged periods of that. Just search "nofap fail stories" on Reddit.
So this news was not entirely surprising.
But before you declare another victory for #metoo, remember The Hypocrisy Rule of Capitalism: Those who keep bringing in truckloads of cash for their companies get to keep their jobs no matter what they do, while those who fail to produce but are too public and too contract-protected to sack get the public humiliation ritual. Let's not forget that the decision to fire the poor sap was likely made by many a callow senior exec with HR folders that are as bad or worse, Otherwise they wouldn't be in the position to decide whose head is rolling.
You're only as good as your last ad, folks. And when the ad industry as a whole is suffering? Well, you better have a golden parachute they can't shoot down because as Peter Thiel says, "Every modern king is a scapegoat who's managed to delay his/her execution."
What more is there to say about the industry? Friends say that it's a sign the holding companies can't hold on. We're going to be replaced by smaller, scrappier firms. But what's to say they won't be replaced in turn by in-house companies? And with AI and automation in full swing, what's to say those sweatshop laborers won't get wiped out by college students who would've gone into sales or customer service watching Skill Shares and Masterclasses on ad-making and Photoshop?
The pie is shrinking, and it sucks. But maybe that's the way it's supposed to be. After all, ad budgets like we see today are relatively recent. Like 60 years tops. It's not like Roman merchants were coming back from perilous trade voyages only to pour half their take into interrupting gladiatorial games and chariot races with mini-plays about anti-aging creams (Aphrodite-approved!).
Maybe this is just the market finally returning to the way it's historically been. And maybe it will finally free those of us who would rather be doing something else to go do that. Lord knows, the days when a senile David Ogilvy was allowed to wander the halls of his esteemed agency and pontificate to juniors before being whisked away by handlers (who would whisper to his audience to ignore his advice) are long gone. As are the cocaine-fueled, world-jaunting ones, it seems. Luckily, if the industry does decide there's no room for you long before you're ready to leave, your boss won't make your end as ignominious as they made Tham's.
He'll just lay you off along with the other non-stand-outs.