Nationwide Exec VP & CMO MATT JAUCHIUS, who "oversaw the insurer's 'dead boy' ad" that ran during this year's Super Bowl, "has left the company," according to Ashley Rodriguez of AD AGE. The move comes after the company "faced backlash for airing" the commercial. Jauchius "defended the controversial spot, designed to raise awareness of preventable childhood deaths, after it aired." Nationwide Associate VP/Corporate Marketing JOE CASE said that Jauchius last week "left the company to pursue other opportunities." Rodriguez noted Jauchius prior to his exit "helped overhaul Nationwide's corporate branding strategy, rallying the company behind the tagline 'Nationwide is on your side.'" He "has been replaced" by Nationwide Agribusiness President & COO TERRANCE WILLIAMS (ADAGE.com, 5/6). In Columbus, Evan Weese noted Williams "has been with Nationwide for 20 years." It is "unclear whether Jauchius has taken another job" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 5/1). At the recent IMG World Congress of Sports, Jauchius addressed the commercial by saying in part, "There were haters on social media. That was disappointing, but that’s the world we live in. ... Don’t be surprised if you see us again next year for the Super Bowl." Meanwhile, Kantar Media data shows that Nationwide in '14 spent more on ads than all but 27 companies during network and cable sports programming (THE DAILY).
