FIRSTCOM TO MERGE WITH WCJ
By Adnews Staff
Firstcom Marketing and Wunderman, Cato, Johnson, both of Toronto, will merge operations by the end of the year. Both agencies are owned by the Young & Rubicam group of companies. The newly formed company will operate under the WCJ banner. The move will expand WCJ's capabilities, moving the agency into sales promotion and channel marketing, activities that Firstcom specializes in. WCJ specializes in direct marketing. In the merger, about half of Firstcom's staff will merge into WCJ. The remaining Firstcom employees will work in the new Relationship Management Centre, which will provide database marketing consultation, customer data management and telemedia services to clients on a North American basis. Firstcom clients include Ford of Canada, Ford and Lincoln Mercury Dealers Association, Ford Parts & Service, Irving Oil, Inglis, Tetra Pak, Ferrero Rocher and ARCO Petroleum. WCJ's client list includes Columbia House, the Loyalty Group, Royal Bank of Canada and The Co-operators.