Mediapolis grabs 15m Mercedes-Benz account

Mediapolis is understood to have won the 15m implementational planning and buying account for Mercedes-Benz, the prestigious German car manufacturer.

The agency is believed to have beaten incumbents Leo Burnett, John Ayling Associates (which handles Mercedes’ fleet account) and the CIA-owned agency the Negotiation Centre to the business.

The media review was called earlier this year after Leo Burnett resigned the creative business, due to conflict with its European Fiat account. It continued dealing with media into 1997 because deals with media owners were already in place.

Creative work on the account is now handled by Partners BDDH, which won the account in January. The strategic media planning was the first piece of business won by MSc, the strategic planning venture set up by Partners BDDH and New PHD.

At this year’s Motor Show at Earls Court, the company unveiled its new A-class range of smaller cars.

Burnett handled the Mercedes account on a full-service basis since 1992.

There was no one available for comment at Mercedes or at Mediapolis as Marketing Week went to press.