Final Word from Wednesday, October 6, 2004
We're not usually in the thankless business of making predictions, but this time we'll go out on a limb. Marketing & Media reported on Mon. that Eurotel is reviewing its media planning and buying agency. We predict that the contract will be stripped from Starcom soon and handed to Mediaedge:cia, Young & Rubicam's media affiliate, and that Y&R itself will be given Eurotel's creative contract. There are signs that the decision has already been made. Insiders say that the strict procurement process that existed under the foreign-led management has been circumvented to the point of oblivion. Contracts, we are told, are now handed out on the basis of political affiliation, friendship, and worse. Politicians who in one way or another profit from this might not care, but taxpayers and minority shareholders deserve to know what's happening to their money. advertising agency