McKinney Buys Back Agency From Havas
26 Juni 2008 - 7:56PM
PR Newswire (US)
SURESNES, France, June 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Havas and
McKinney announced today that McKinney's management has acquired
100% interest in the agency from Havas. "We've enjoyed a very
cordial and autonomous working relationship with Havas and are
proud of the contributions we have delivered to them," said Brad W.
Brinegar, McKinney chairman and CEO. "But we have long wished to be
able to compete as an independent agency, and we were thrilled when
this opportunity presented itself." "The strength of the McKinney
brand and its strong performance has made it a valued part of
Havas," said Fernando Rodes Vila, Havas CEO. "We are increasing our
focus on our core global brands, Euro RSCG, Havas Media and Arnold,
so this is a good time to act on the interest Brad and his team
have long expressed to own the agency. This sale is beneficial for
both parties. We wish Brad and his entire team continued success."
"My hope is that with the move, McKinney's clients will feel an
even greater sense of entrepreneurial commitment to their success,"
added Brinegar. Brinegar will remain chairman and CEO of the agency
he joined in 2002. Joining him as partners and in constituting the
board of McKinney are Jeff Jones, president; Andrew Delbridge,
chief strategy officer; Joni Madison, chief operating officer;
Jonathan Cude, chief creative officer; Tim Jones, chief financial
officer; Jeremy Holden, director of account planning; Doug Holroyd,
director of connection planning; John Newall, group account
director and director of strategic alliances; Janet Northen,
director of agency communications; Jim Russell, director of digital
strategy and Ellen Steinberg, group creative director. About
McKinney McKinney is an advertising agency pioneering the art and
science of building strong emotional and transactional connections
through rich, engaging conversations between brands and their best
prospects. Founded in 1969, the Durham, NC-based agency has created
some of the most innovative integrated marketing communications
programs, including Audi of America's Art of the H3ist,
Travelocity's Roaming Gnome, the Polaris CEO Duel and the launch of
the Sony Bravia LCD TV. Winner of Creativity Magazine's Campaign of
the year in 2006 and one of the top EFFIE-winning agencies for the
past five years, McKinney's work is also recognized by the Cannes
Advertising Film Festival, the New York Andy Awards, the One Show
and the Interactive Advertising Bureau's MIXX Awards. McKinney
ranks third among U.S. media and creative agencies for media
innovation awards for 2006-2007. The agency is the only two-time
winner of the Yahoo! Creative Summit; in 2006, CyberWon ranked
McKinney 7th in the US and 34th in the world for interactive
awards; and the agency is one of only two, two-time gold winners of
the AAAA's Jay Chiat Planning Awards. McKinney's clients include
Brown-Forman Corporation brands including Bonterra, Chambord,
Sonoma Cutrer, Southern Comfort and Tuaca; Coldwell Banker, Major
League Gaming, The NASDAQ Stock Market, Partnership for a Drug-Free
America, ProShares, Qwest Communications, Travelocity, Virgin
Mobile USA and Virgin Atlantic Airways. McKinney was advised by
AdMedia Partners, an independent merger and acquisition advisory
firm based in New York City that provides M&A services to
digital and traditional media, marketing and information
businesses. For more information, visit our website at
http://www.mckinney.com/ or visit the McKinney Newsroom by
contacting Janet Northen at . About Havas Havas (Euronext Paris:
HAV.PA) is a global advertising and communications services group.
Headquartered in Paris, Havas operates through its two worldwide
networks, Euro RSCG Worldwide and Havas Media, which are
headquartered in New York and Barcelona respectively, and through a
number of independent agencies renowned for their creativity, such
as Arnold Worldwide Partners. A multicultural and decentralized
Group, Havas is present in more than 75 countries through its
network of agencies and contractual affiliations. The group offers
a broad range of communications services, including traditional
advertising, direct marketing, media planning and buying, corporate
communications, sales promotion, design, human resources, sports
marketing, multimedia interactive communications and public
relations. Havas employs approximately 14,400 people. Further
information about Havas is available on the company's website:
http://www.havas.com/. CONTACTS : McKinney: Janet Northen Director
of Agency Communications Phone: +1-919-313-4062 Email: Havas:
Lorella Gessa Communications Director Tel: +33(0)1-58-47-90-36
Herve Philippe Chief Financial Officer Tel: +33(0)1-58-47-91-23 2
allee de Longchamp 92281 Suresnes Cedex, France Tel
+33(0)1-58-47-90-00 Fax +33(0)1-58-47-99-99 http://www.havas.fr/ SA
au capital de 171 940 080,40 EUR - 335 480 265 RCS Nanterre - APE
7311Z DATASOURCE: Havas CONTACT: CONTACTS : McKinney: Janet
Northen, Director of Agency Communications, Phone: +1-919-313-4062,
Email: ; Havas: Lorella Gessa, Communications Director, Tel:
+33(0)1-58-47-90-36, ; Herve Philippe, Chief Financial Officer,
Tel: +33(0)1-58-47-91-23,
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