MEC Kicks Off 2010 with a String of Global Announcements

LONDON, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- MEC, a leading media agency (www.mecglobal.com), approaches the end of the first quarter of 2010 with a string of client wins and appointments in key markets around the world.

In the first three months of 2010, MEC continued to grow in Asia Pacific. In China, MEC strengthened its management structure with the appointments of Michelle Ko as President, MEC China, Tommy Au as General Manager, MEC Shanghai and Theresa Loo, Head of Analytics and Insight, China. MEC Shanghai also announced that it has retained media planning and buying duties for IKEA in the region, and MEC China has been selected by household appliance leader Candy Group to build its brand in the region.

MEC was appointed as media agency of record by Wrigley for Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, which further develops MEC's relationship with this key client partner. In Jakarta, MEC Indonesia was appointed by Telkomsel, the country's largest mobile telecommunications operator, to handle its outdoor media, in addition to the AOR assignment awarded at the end of 2009.

In Australia, the South Australian Government appointed MEC as the master media agency for its brand advertising services, a life changing win for MEC in Adelaide. In Mumbai, MEC India has announced a hat trick of significant account wins by adding Mercedes Benz, Colgate Palmolive and Zee Network to its client list. Mercedes Benz has cultivated a strong presence in India for over 50 years and its work with MEC will begin immediately. Zee Entertainment, the largest media and entertainment group in India, joined Colgate in completing a fantastic start to the year in the region.

The global media agency has also strengthened its management teams in key European markets over the last two months. In Italy, Alessandro Villoresi was appointed Chairman and Matteo Cardani and Luca Vergani as joint CEOs. In Paris, MEC France announced the appointment of Antoine Ripoche as Director, MEC Interaction and Christine Ducrest as Managing Director of Global Solutions France and as the global client lead for Chanel. And in Spain the agency announced Jordi Calvet as President MEC GroupM Spain and Esperanza Zaranz as Chief Operating Officer.

In the UK, MEC has been selected by the Department for Work and Pensions to handle its communications planning, and MEC Manchester has scooped new business from Shearings Group and the sponsorship account for SPAR UK, won without pitch from Fast Track.

In New York, after retaining IKEA and adding new client partner Michelin, MEC North America announced that Star Kalatzan has joined the agency as Managing Director, responsible for accounts including IKEA, Novartis, YUM! and Toys'R'Us, among others.  The North American operations also announced the launch of an integrated Analytics and Insight practice in North America, led by Yahoo!  veteran Theresa LaMontagne  in a newly created Managing Director position.  The new Analytics and Insight practice combines and integrates the agency's media research, digital analytics, data integration and modeling teams to create on and offline continuity in data, analytics and insights. 

This string of announcements follows a successful three years for MEC around the world: the agency was ranked number one in RECMA's Global Compitches report for 2009. The report is an analysis of 2,000 account moves and pitches across 289 media agencies in 20 countries, and confirms MEC's successful new business results across multiple local markets.

About MEC

We deliver value by creating, implementing and measuring communication solutions that actively engage people with brands:

Media planning and buying ~ Digital media ~ Search ~ Performance marketing ~ Social media ~ Analytics and Insight ~ Sport, Entertainment & Cause ~ Multi-cultural ~

Content ~ Retail ~ Integrated planning

Our 4,000 highly talented and motivated people work with domestic and international clients in 84 countries. We are a founding partner of GroupM.  To find out more, visit us at www.mecglobal.com

SOURCE MEC