• by Joe Mandese , November 4, 2008

Omnicom's OMD unit continues a new business roll this week--picking up two major pieces of business, including European media duties for Renault, as part of a global consolidation of Renault's and Nissan's media accounts. OMD was the incumbent on Nissan's $1 billion-plus account. Aegis Media handled Renault in Europe and was a finalist in the consolidation pitch.

The news follows OMD's win last week of Levi Strauss & Co.'s $50 million-plus media account, and other recent wins including Dial-Henkel, Callaway, McAfee, Intel, and new business from Visa.

While the loss of Renault, with billings estimated in the $700 million-plus range, is another loss for Aegis--which has had a poor new business record, mainly in the U.S.--it is its first major loss in Europe, and insiders estimate that it amounts to less than 1% of Aegis Group's total revenues.

The review, which began more than six months ago, stems from a marketing alliance formed between Japan's Nissan--long an Omnicom client--and Europe's Renault.