True To His Word: Mason Meets Second-Network Pledge

CHICAGO-Bruce Mason, True North Communications chief executive officer, frequently talks about the “architecture” of the holding company. Last week, he finally added the new agency wing he had been promising shareholders and began considering further additions.
In announcing the definitive agreement for TN to acquire Bozell, Jacobs, Kenyon & Eckhardt in a stock transaction valued at $440 million, Mason said, “This gives us a much stronger financial position than we’ve ever been in, and that enables us to be very, very aggressive in the area of acquisitions.”
The deal raises speculation that an expanded TN also may be interested in acquiring another global network, such as Bates Worldwide, which is being “de-merged” from Cordiant PLC.