Hill, AutoNation Reach Road's End

Regional Shops to Gain as Client ‘Decentralizes’ Creative Chores
BOSTON–A move by AutoNation USA to “decentralize” marketing sparked the break up with Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos.
It was the second sizable client in as many months to part company with the Boston-based agency. Citing “strategic differences,” Hill, Holliday and Turner Broadcasting Systems’ Cable News Network also split up.
Agency representative Eric Fehrnstrom described both developments as attempts by president Fred Bertino and director of client services June Blocklin to “shed” business inconsistent with a newly stated desire to handle integrated marketing accounts.
In a letter to AutoNation senior vice president of brand development John Drury dated Sept.