The McDonald’s Owner/Operators of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana have dropped Leo Burnett and named Toronto-based agency Cosette as their new local advertising agency, reports the Chicago Tribune.
The move, which was announced yesterday, shifts the marketing for almost 500 mid-west McDonald’s away from Leo Burnett, who have represented the McDonald’s Owner/Operators of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana since the mid-80s.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Cossette and their fresh creative ideas to MOCNI,” said Ed Schmitt Jr., MOCNI co-op president. “They have a clear passion for our business, and a proven track record with our counterparts in Canada.”
Cossette is already McDonald’s lead creative agency in Canada, where they handle national brand and regional owner/operator business. This appointment marks their first U.S. assignment, and the agency will be opening up a Chicago office to handle the new business. The new office will be headed by Alyssa Huggins, a veteran of Cossette’s McDonald’s Canada business in Toronto, and staffed by around 20 people, including both Cossette Canadian team members and local Chicago talent.