US ad agency seeks out UK media buyer

A US advertising agency which numbers Agfa, Colgate and the famous knife makers Swiss Army Brands among its clients, is in partnership talks with London media agencies. Mullen Advertising, of Wenham, Massachusetts, is negotiating with a number of agencies over setting up a UK buying operation for its clients. According to research from the American Association of Advertising Agencies, Mullen also handles clients including General Motors, The Stanley Works, which manufactures Stanley knives, clothing retailer LL Bean and the Sci-Fi Channel. The agency has also worked for BMW, Timberland and Reebok golf. The agency was founded in 1970, has 185 employees and is based in a Jacobean mansion. It recorded billings of $202m (122m) in July this year. Mullen says it specialises in general advertising, account planning, PR, direct marketing, design and interactive marketing. Mullen’s chief executive officer James Mullen and its chief operating officer Joseph Grimaldi were not available for comment as Marketing Week went to press.