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Express Newspapers has severed its final links with its media

incumbent CIA, consolidating the pounds 20 million planning and buying

business for its Express titles into OMD.

The move reverses the unusual decision, taken two months ago, to split

Express Newspapers' planning and buying account between the two agencies

and MediaCom, which picked up the pounds 6 million Daily Star business.

The split, which followed a media review called by the Express's new

owners, Northern & Shell, saw CIA lose The Daily Express to OMD but

retain the pounds 12 million Sunday Express account, which represents

the bulk of the business. CIA had held both Express accounts since

1989.

A Northern & Shell statement explained that the decision had been taken

following a "highly competitive business proposition" from OMD. The

Express owners confirmed that MediaCom would continue to work on the

Daily Star business and claimed that an "amicable agreement" had been

reached with CIA. However, the agency could not be reached to confirm

this. N&S is expected to receive a better deal on airtime pricing by

pooling both titles into OMD.