WPP extends grip on Ford with $50m US Land Rover win

NEW YORK - WPP Group has extended its grip on Ford's global advertising business as the motor giant shifts its $50m (拢32m) US advertising account for Land Rover out of Omnicom's GSD&M and into Young & Rubicam.

WPP already handles almost all of Ford's business around the world, split between its three main agency networks. J Walter Thompson handles Ford's main brand work in the US, while in Europe the task is shared between Y&R and Ogilvy & Mather.

GSD&M was appointed by the brand's previous owner BMW in March 2000, three months before it sold it to Ford.

The deal sees Y&R, based in Irvine, California, handle the creative ad work, while media planning and buying goes to sister company Mediaedge:CIA and Wunderman picks up the direct account.

The appointment follows Y&R's victory last year in the pitch for the Ford-owned Jaguar Cars when it consolidated its $125m global advertising account into the agency.

GSD&M's contract with Land Rover had been set to run until December 2003, but a clause in the contract allowed Ford to cancel the deal after June 30, providing 90 days' notice was given.

Y&R already handles the Land Rover business outside North America.

In the UK, Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R recently developed a TV campaign for the Land Rover Discovery starring world-famous British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes.

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