Cossette Media joins new international media company
By Adnews Staff
Cossette Media of Montreal, BLM of the United Kingdom, US-based Horizon Media and ten other international agencies have formed a new global media services company called Columbus Media International. The independent company will provide its services in 18 territories across Europe, North America, Russia and the Asia Pacific region. The company, which is aimed at international marketers, claims combined billings of US$4.2 billion. Columbus will operate from two central hubs based in London and New York. Nick Lockett of BLM will oversee the company as chairman. Pierre Delagrave of Cossette Media and Bill Koenigsberg of Horizon Media will be vice-chairmen. “Columbus is a new model for international media planning and buying,” said Lockett. “It’s the only serious alternative to multinational networks and is long overdue. We’re going on the offensive, taking the networks on at their own game with a tried and tested network of partners hungry to compete on the global stage.” Other participating media firms include MediaPlus of Germany, Creative Media Services of Latvia, Sovero Media of Russia, Cencomed of Spain, Mediatop of France, MediaItalia of Italy, GT Media of Ireland, Schreiner & Van Bokkel of Belgium and Eurizon of the Netherlands. “Our clients are demanding international strategies and strong local implementation both in terms of online and offline media,” said Delagrave. “Columbus enables us to respond to these needs in a very consistent manner across regions.”