Canadian agencies untouched by auto account action in the U.S.

General Motors' review of its US$3 billion+ buying and planning business south of the border will have no affect on its Canadian agency M2 Universal, a sister to the Interpublic Group incumbents involved in the review.
Hugh Dow, president of M2 Universal, says General Motors of Canada directs and selects its advertising and marketing partners independently from the U.S. corporation.
The U.S review involves GM's national and regional dealer group buying now handled by Mediaworks of Warren, Mich. and New York - a separate GM agency formed by IPG - and LCI in New York. They will be facing off with GM's media planning and research agency GM Planworks of Detroit, a unit of Starcom MediaVest Group. There is speculation that the review will lead to consolidation of GM's buying and planning with one agency group.
A second Toronto-based media management firm, MPG/Maxxmedia, has also escaped unscathed by upheaval in the U.S. where 60 layoffs across MPG North American offices came about after its loss of Intel, estimated at US$300 million, and the Volkswagen of America media account valued in excess of US$400 million.
David Chung, president of MPG/Maxxmedia, says the cuts are strictly in the U.S. and there have been no changes in the Canadian office, which still handles the Volkswagen and Audi business.
By Staff 
March 15, 2005

General Motors’ review of its US$3 billion+ buying and planning business south of the border will have no affect on its Canadian agency M2 Universal, a sister to the Interpublic Group incumbents involved in the review.

Hugh Dow, president of M2 Universal, says General Motors of Canada directs and selects its advertising and marketing partners independently from the U.S. corporation.

The U.S review involves GM’s national and regional dealer group buying now handled by Mediaworks of Warren, Mich. and New York – a separate GM agency formed by IPG – and LCI in New York. They will be facing off with GM’s media planning and research agency GM Planworks of Detroit, a unit of Starcom MediaVest Group. There is speculation that the review will lead to consolidation of GM’s buying and planning with one agency group.

A second Toronto-based media management firm, MPG/Maxxmedia, has also escaped unscathed by upheaval in the U.S. where 60 layoffs across MPG North American offices came about after its loss of Intel, estimated at US$300 million, and the Volkswagen of America media account valued in excess of US$400 million.

David Chung, president of MPG/Maxxmedia, says the cuts are strictly in the U.S. and there have been no changes in the Canadian office, which still handles the Volkswagen and Audi business.