MCKINNEY BUYS BACK AGENCY FROM HAVAS
Thursday, June 26th, 2008 filled in Media Agencies / Advertising, Media Agencies / Advertising | No Comments »
Havas and McKinney announced today that McKinneyâs management has acquired 100% interest in the agency from Havas.
âWeâve enjoyed a very cordial and autonomous working relationship with Havas and are proud of the contributions we have delivered to them,â said Brad W. Brinegar, McKinney chairman and CEO. âBut we have long wished to be able to compete as an independent agency, and we were thrilled when this opportunity presented itself.â
âThe strength of the McKinney brand and its strong performance has made it a valued part of Havas,â said Fernando RodĂŠs VilĂ , Havas CEO. âWe 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.â
âMy hope is that with the move, McKinneyâs clients will feel an even greater sense of entrepreneurial commitment to their success,â 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 Americaâs Art of the H3ist, Travelocityâs Roaming Gnome, the Polaris CEO Duel and the launch of the
Sony Bravia LCD TV.
Winner of Creativity Magazineâs Campaign of the year in 2006 and one of the top EFFIE-winning agencies for the past five years,
McKinneyâs work is also recognized by the Cannes Advertising Film Festival, the New York Andy Awards, the One Show and the
Interactive Advertising Bureauâs 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 AAAAâs Jay Chiat Planning Awards. McKinneyâs 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.
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.
Havas and McKinney announced today that McKinneyâs management has acquired 100% interest in the agency from Havas.
âWeâve enjoyed a very cordial and autonomous working relationship with Havas and are proud of the contributions we have delivered to them,â said Brad W. Brinegar, McKinney chairman and CEO. âBut we have long wished to be able to compete as an independent agency, and we were thrilled when this opportunity presented itself.â
âThe strength of the McKinney brand and its strong performance has made it a valued part of Havas,â said Fernando RodĂŠs VilĂ , Havas CEO. âWe 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.â
âMy hope is that with the move, McKinneyâs clients will feel an even greater sense of entrepreneurial commitment to their success,â 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 Americaâs Art of the H3ist, Travelocityâs Roaming Gnome, the Polaris CEO Duel and the launch of the
Sony Bravia LCD TV.
Winner of Creativity Magazineâs Campaign of the year in 2006 and one of the top EFFIE-winning agencies for the past five years,
McKinneyâs work is also recognized by the Cannes Advertising Film Festival, the New York Andy Awards, the One Show and the
Interactive Advertising Bureauâs 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 AAAAâs Jay Chiat Planning Awards. McKinneyâs 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.
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.