Flamingo Reviews

Dysfunctional senior leadership has created a toxic atmosphere. Despite constant messages of ‘flat structure’ and ‘opportunities for all’, the feudal system is alive and kicking at Flamingo. The CEO has assembled a senior team of yes-men who are given no real autonomy. Those that are willing to play her game are lavishly praised and rewarded with promotions beyond their experience or competence; anyone who dares to question her approach is quickly ushered out of the back door. Her desire for complete control is bordering on sociopathic, as is her need to be loved and recognised. (If you’ve never worked at an agency where, every year, staff are forced to celebrate the CEO’s anniversary of being hired, complete with cupcakes bearing her face, then you’ve never worked at Flamingo). Unfortunately, her decisions appear to be based on a desire to create a legacy for herself, rather than for the good of the business. She seems in denial that she presides over a small market research agency and not US Vogue. A lack of strategic vision is papered over with buzzwords and bluster, and complete restructuring has become an almost quarterly occurrence. Changes are pushed hard from the top, but not backed up with any substance or actual operational change. Flamingo is clinging desperately to a fading reputation; employees are treated as if they should feel lucky to work there, and starry-eyed juniors in particular are mercilessly exploited for their time and energy. Apart from a few talented individuals, Flamingo does run-of-the-mill work, drowns it in marketing jargon and charges over the odds. If you value style over substance, you’ll fit in well at Flamingo.

The company is run similar to a totalitarian system with a narcissist CEO as its commander. The supposedly flat hierarchy – several teams representing the level of CEO likes and yes-saying by their team members. The senior leadership team’s combination of personality types was retrofitted, based on a free online personality test. Which, going further, everyone else was asked to complete, share, and discuss in their team. Behavioural science - NOT. The senior team changed constantly, and so did the strategy and business proposition - actually there was never one, but a lot of talk that there would be one. There was also a lot of talk about accountability - it was expected from the bottom, never from the top. And so was excellence - senior leadership failed to inspire and truly lead, again and again, and again. Senior Leadership has failed to take a business with a good reputation and plenty of potential to new heights. The business is on a downward spiral and it will be only a matter of time Flamingo’s clients will realise they bought into a lot of smoke and mirrors. Don’t touch it - there are many agencies out there, where you will be able to do great work, rather than having to deal with the consequences of bad, toxic leadership and lack of vision on a daily basis!