Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Chrysler and BBDO set to part company in 2010
Chrysler and its long-term US agency BBDO are to part company when their contract expires at the end of January, according to reports.
BBDO has held the account since 1994. However according to a report in Advertising Age, based on an executive "close to the matter", there was a "contentious meeting" 10 days ago between senior executives of the agency and Chrysler which included Sergio Marchinonne, the CEO of the carmaker's new owner Fiat.
Subsequently Chrysler, which spent around $1.1bn in the US last year, told BBDO it was putting all of its Q4 projects up for review.
This has seen Publicis & Hal Riney and Richards Group each given two new projects with the latter handed responsibility for the Dodge brand.
Although BBDO has created a regional TV campaigns for the Chrysler 300 and the Town & Country minivan there is speculation this may be in order to fulfill contractual obligations to the agency.
A separate report in AdWeek described problems arising from Chrysler's decision to put all Q4 projects for review. Sources described the process as "chaotic" and "dysfunctional".
This has also been a period of upheaval at Chrysler. Earlier this month the head of Fiat's Lancia brand Oliver Francois was appointed as marketing chief for Chrysler. He replaced Michael Accavitti who himself had only been in the job for four months. Fiat took control of 80% of Chrysler in June, taking the car giant out of administration.
DATED: 14.10.09
FEED: AW
