Indiantelevision.com Team

(8 January 2008 7:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Hyundai Motor America has awarded its media duties to Interpublic Group of Cos.' Initiative.

Initiative which beat out incumbent Aegis Group's Carat and Havas Media for the account, will handle media duties for Hyundai and Kia brands.

The automaker spent about $735 million in U.S. measured media for the Hyundai and Kia brands in 2006, according to TNS Media Intelligence.

Hyundai's automaker's media-management entity, World Marketing Group, announced the review in October, soon after CEO Steve Wilhite abruptly left the company and 2007 U.S. sales projections were reduced by 40,000 units, said an Ad Age report.

Company announced Jong Eun Kim as its new executive to head its North American operations.