MCCANN-ERICKSON TO CLOSE AMMIRATI PURIS
By Adnews Staff
McCann-Erickson Worldwide is closing Toronto-based ad agency Ammirati Puris and has formed a "non-equity affiliation" with Zig of Toronto to take over a number of Ammirati Puris' clients. So far, the only Ammirati client that has decided to move to Zig as part of the new affiliation is Unilever Canada. Discussions with other clients are taking place, according to Mark Gault, regional director for McCann-Erickson North America. Although Zig plans to add to its staff to handle the new business, no transfers of Ammirati employees to the agency have been as yet announced. Last July president and chief operating officer Arthur Fleischmann left the agency to form John Street, a subsidiary of Envoy Communications Group. Fleischmann was accompanied by Angus Tucker and Stephen Jurisic, Ammirati's co-creative directors, and Emily Bain, the agency's director of strategic planning. Fleischmann was replaced by Neil Everett, who was appointed president and chief executive officer in October. Three months later Everett resigned and chief creative officer Jeff Finkler was promoted to chairman and CEO. Ammirati Puris lost of a number of accounts last fall including Labatt Breweries of Canada, Canada Bread Co., Loblaw Companies Ltd. and Fuji Photo Film. The agency also resigned the Sears Canada account.