The finalists, according to agency insiders, are expected to be a few holding company-level teams, including one that mashes up elements of Publicis shops MediaVest, ZenithOptimeda Group and Digitas, and which is expected to be headed up by MediaVest President of Investment & Activation and Agency Operations Donna Speciale, which is considered a favorite after incumbent sister agency Starcom bowed out of the review.
Another custom holding company approach that has a strong shot is Omnicom Media Group, which is assembling a team that combines the crème de la crème of OMD, PHD and other media services divisions, though the pitch has led to some awkward conversations with long-time studio client Universal.
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The other two finalists are expected to be WPP's Mindshare unit and Aegis' Carat, which recently won the Relativity Media account, the studio that produced "The Social Network," among other big hits.
Details on the final stage of the review could not be discerned at presstime, but agency executives said it should wrap up fairly quickly, as Disney expects to have a new media services agency in place by March 1.