• Ad Age, Friday, December 21, 2007 11:15 AM

Aegis Media has hung on to Pernod Ricard's $200 million global media account, fighting off Publicis Groupe's Optimedia and WPP Group's MindShare after a review, according to insiders. The French booze behemoth started the review last summer, about two years after Aegis' Carat won the U.S. business. Some reports out of Europe suggested the company may have been looking to cut costs.

Carat keeps the U.S. account, with spend of about $66 million, according to TNS Media Intelligence, while Aegis Media will handle it in seven major European markets, China, the Philippines and Canada. "This win reflects yet another vote of confidence in our integrated structure and vision," said Sarah Fay, CEO of Carat and Isobar U.S.

"The spirits sector requires media innovation, and we will continue to draw on all of our areas of specialization to create impact and increased brand equity for Pernod Ricard." Among Pernod's brands are Stolichnaya vodka, Chivas Regal and Wild Turkey.

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