Angus Reid, founder of public affairs consultancy group Angus Reid Consultants (now Ipsos Insight), has been appointed to the position of CEO for Vancouver-based software company Vision Critical Communications. Vision Critical, which specializes in Internet and new media applications for market research and polling industries, has also placed Reid on the company’s board of directors.

As a result of BBM Canada’s recent reorganization, the company has made two new executive appointments. Ron Bremner, who has been with BBM since 1996, has been promoted to VP, client services. Don Easter, who has also been with the company since 1996, has taken on the role of VP, internal operations. Both promotions are effective immediately. While BBM finishes its company-wide reorganization, Bremner will also fill in as VP, radio and Easter will fill in as VP, television.

Albertans are 80% more likely to drink spiced rum.

Rogers Communications has launched a review of its national creative and media assignments. An RFP has been issued and the company expects to announce the results by mid-year.
The Rogers business was estimated at $40 million when it reviewed its agencies in 1999. The winners of that effort – Media Buying Services (AOR media planning and buying), MacLaren McCann (creative AOR), and Marketel (French-language creative) – will be taking part in this new process.

Burlington, Ont.-based Ikea Canada has named MindShare Canada, of Toronto, agency of record for its Canadian media planning and implementation. The assignment was previously held by Carat. IKEA has 11 Canadian locations, as well as catalogues and the IKEA.ca Web site. It has been increasing its ‘significant’ investments in Canadian media to support its growing Canadian customer base. Brian Fitzpatrick, managing partner of MindShare Canada, will be leading the team on the account.
MindShare Canada’s other clients include Tim Hortons, 20th Century Fox and Gillette. It is part of GroupM, the company created by WPP to represent its consolidated media investment management interests.

Some of Canada’s top industry execs have signed on as speakers at this year’s CMDC conference. Organizers have so far confirmed a panel discussion moderated by Michael Vaughan of ROB TV with Phillip Crawley, publisher and CEO, The Globe and Mail; Richard Stursberg, EVP, CBC English television; Brian Segal, president and CEO, publishing, Rogers Media Corporation; and Jay Switzer, president and CEO, CHUM.
Other highlights include a look at accountability at the highest levels with a presentation by Ian Greenberg, CEO of Astral Media.
The event will kick off with a keynote address by Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of London-based WPP.
The 2005 Canadian Media Directors’ Council Conference, ‘Called to Account – Managing Risk with Accountability,’ will be held April 5 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

More than half of all Canadians have an RRSP
-14.2 million Canadians (52%) have an RRSP
– Half of RRSP holders (51%) are between 35 and 54 years of age, another 20% are 25 to 34
-72% of 35- to 44-year-olds, 73% of 45- to 54-year-olds, and 62% of younger Canadians aged 25 to 34 have an RRSP
-Only one-quarter (24%) of Canadians 18 to 24 have an RRSP
-RRSP holders are 1.6 times more likely than average to have a personal yearly income of $80,000 or more
-Men (51%) and women (49%) are equally likely to have an RRSP
-79% of RRSP holders own their home
– RRSPs are equally likely to be held by Canadians across Canada with the exception of the Atlantic region. Their 44% having an RRSP is slightly below the national average of 52%
-A majority of RRSP holders (61%) contribute less than $2,500 in an average year
-Only one in five (20%) of RRSP holders contributed the maximum in the past tax year
-53% of RRSP holders name a bank as the institution they use for investments and a significant minority (28%) use a full-service broker, which is 1.5 times the national average incidence of use of full-service brokers
-75% of RRSP holders are married, only 16% are single, and 6% are separated or divorced
-55% of RRSP holders did their last tax return by themselves or with the help of a friend, another 34% had an accountant/financial advisor do it, and 10% used a tax service
-In terms of yesterday exposure, the top four media for targeting RRSP holders are: radio (88%), TV (88%), Internet (57%) and daily newspaper (57%)

Source: BBM RTS Canada Fall ’03 / Spring ’04

The preceding information is from BBM RTS, a syndicated consumer-media survey of over 55,000 Canadians, conducted twice a year by BBM Canada. For more information contact Craig Dorning of BBM Canada: cdorning@bbm.ca.