WPP's Ties to Ford Force Grey From Chrysler Pitch

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NEW YORK Chrysler’s newfound willingness to look beyond Omnicom Group to solicit creative ideas on Chrysler and Dodge led the carmaker to invite WPP Group’s Grey, among others.

But sources said today that Chrysler’s openess wasn’t shared by WPP and its top global client, Ford. And even though Grey doesn’t have any Ford business, the agency has withdrawn from the Chrysler search, in deference to the WPP-Ford relationship, said sources.

The decision came after Grey’s name surfaced in the search and WPP and Grey weighed their chances of winning against the long-term needs of Ford and the prospect of Grey working for Ford in the future, according to sources.

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