• Adweek, Wednesday, October 10, 2007 11:15 AM

Korean carmakers Hyundai and Kia have put their media planning and buying accounts into review, and media management firm World Marketing Group has tapped Roth Associates to oversee the process. Incumbent Carat will be an automatic finalist, and the shop says it hopes to hang on to the business. "We are confident that with Roth Associates supporting the review, WMG will have the best opportunity to select the right media agency to help us meet strategic needs for Hyundai and Kia, growing brands in the North American market," says William Lee, chief operating officer of WMG.

Total U.S. media spending for the accounts was over $800 million in 2006, with Hyundai accounting for $600 million of that, says Nielsen Monitor-Plus. And through the first seven months of 2007, Hyundai and Kia together spent about $470 million. The creative portion of the business is not part of the review, WMG says, so Hyundai shop Goodby, Silverstein and Kia's davidandgoliath can breathe easy--for now.

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