BENSIMON SEPARATES MEDIA DIVISION
By Adnews Staff
Toronto-based Bensimon Byrne DMB&B and U.S.-based Televest Inc. have teamed up to establish an independent media management company. Bensimon's existing media department has been restructured to operate as a standalone unit under the name TeleVest Canada. Bensimon and TeleVest are owned by The McManus Group of New York. "The business of media has become increasingly sophisticated and complex," Bensimon president Jack Bensimon says in a release. "In recent years, the media discipline has taken on an even greater importance in the advertising process. Effective media management is now so specialized that we believe it requires dedicated resources and management focus." Sherland Forde will head up Televest Canada as president. Most recently he was executive vice-president and media director for Bensimon's media division. Televest Canada client list includes: Procter & Gamble, Effem Foods, Blockbuster Video, Philips Electronics, Paramount Home Video, Australian Tourist Commission and the Toronto Blue Jays. Annual billings for the unit will exceed $100 million.