FCB keeping Mitre 10 after two decades

FCB reports that it has retained the business of hardware shop Mitre 10 after an exhaustive review of the account. The agency has serviced the now 120-store chain for 20 years.

FCB chief executive Greg Eichmann says keeping Mitre 10 as a client is the single most important achievement for the agency this year. "There is no point in pitching aggressively for new business if existing clients are compromised in the process."

In other FCB news, the network agency's Worldwide office in Chicago is blaming an economic slowdown for eliminating 39 jobs, or 5 per cent of its staff, although the company says attrition is also a contributing factor.

The move comes as parent company True North Communications finalises plans to merge with the Interpublic group of companies.

True North companies also include CRM, Marketing Drive in the marketing services sector, and public relations network BSMG Worldwide.