Mercedes Hunt Off to Slow Start

The search for a new agency to handle Mercedes-Benz of North America’s $125 million creative account could be a long and winding road.
At press time, Mercedes had yet to hold meetings with executives from either of the two advertising holding companies that handle the bulk of parent DaimlerChrysler’s business–True North Communications, Chicago, and Omnicom Group, New York–or their affiliated ad agencies, said sources. Mercedes, which pulled the account from Lowe & Partners/SMS last week, said it will meet with TN and Omnicom before deciding whether to stage a full-scale review.