McCann-Erickson loses £9m Goodyear tyres

McCann-Erickson has lost the &£9m pan-European Goodyear tyres advertising account, which it has held for more than 40 years, to Leagas Delaney.

Sources say the decision was made this week after the pitch came down to the two advertising agencies. The original shortlist also included Wieden & Kennedy and Springer & Jacoby.

A pitch over the Goodyear media planning and buying account has yet to be decided. The company spent &£1.5m in the UK last year. Universal McCann, the incumbent agency, is pitching against CIA Medianetwork and Carat.

Goodyear European advertising director Rainer Keinath says: “We’ve been waiting for months for this decision. We’ve been with McCann for more than 40 years. It is very sensitive. I cannot deny this.”

Leagas Delaney managing director Nick Hough says: “This win plays to our strengths. We are already handling pan-European business out of London such as Adidas.”

Goodyear says it decided to review the business to ensure it was still getting the best advertising available.

The appointment of Leagas Delaney to handle the pan-European advertising account will not affect Goodyear’s link with Summerfield Wilmot Keene, the agency which handles the advertising for its Wrangler tyre range, aimed at 4X4 vehicle owners.

see {storyLink (“MW199908120035″,”McCann-Erickson wins &£6m Pioneer account”)}