• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, October 3, 2013

At least one big car company doesn’t feel conflicted about the pending Omnicom-Publicis merger. Omnicom Group and client Nissan have just inked a new multi-year marketing and communications services deal.

Under the agreement, Omnicom is creating a new dedicated unit to the car maker called Nissan United that will provide the company with advertising, marketing, media, promotions, communications and digital services.

“Brand power is a core pillar of our strategic plan and is essential for our growth,” stated Roel de Vries, Nissan’s global head of marketing, brand and communications. The Nissan United structure, he added, is “a perfect setup to deliver on our promise of innovation and excitement for everyone.”

The new full-service shop will be based in New York. For years the client’s lead ad shop has been Omnicom’s TBWA on the west coast while media has been led by sibling media shop OMD. Now Nissan United “will serve as a global leadership group to lead and align a network of various Omnicom and non-Omnicom agencies around the world, including TBWA, OMD, Interbrand, Emanate and Hakuhodo,” the car company said.

TBWA veteran Jon Castle has been named president of Nissan United. Castle has been the lead on TBWA’s Nissan account since 2007. He was with Havas Group’s Arnold before that.

“We remain dedicated to bring together the best Omnicom resources around the world to continue to strengthen the Nissan brand,” Castle stated.