GEE, JEFFERY FLYING HIGH
By Adnews Staff
Gee, Jeffery & Partners Advertising is in the cockpit with Calgary-based Canadian Airlines International. The Toronto ad agency won the $11-million-plus agency of record assignment in a final shootout with BCP of Montreal, which has been Canadian's Quebec agency of record for the past eight years. An airline spokesperson told Adnews yesterday that BCP had been offered the Quebec business but the agency had not yet replied. Gee, Jeffery will hire 10 new people to service the account, which entails both creative and media, agency partner Peter Jeffery told Adnews yesterday. He said his shop will launch some advertising in July and will come out with a full campaign in the fall. Gee Jeffery will spearhead Canadian's drive "to become the preferred airline for business travel in Canada," said passenger marketing vice-president Gregg Saretsky, in a release. Other agencies on the original short list were Vickers & Benson Advertising and Ogilvy & Mather, both of Toronto. O&M Direct had the direct mail portion of the business. The incumbent on the account was TBWA Chiat/Day of Toronto. The review started in November last year with 10 agencies competing.