MediaBuyerPlanner: GM has shifted its $750 million pan-European media account away from Interpublic Group of Cos. to Aegis.

This is the second blow from the automaker to Interpublic in as many years, AdAge points out. GM, which has long been Interpublic's largest client, moved its $3.5 billion U.S. media buying account from Interpublic's GM Mediaworks to Publicis Groupe's Starcom MediaVest in May 2005. The switch consolidated media services, as Starcom's GM Planworks unit handled GM's U.S. media planning.

Interpublic's Universal McCann and Initiative worked on GM's media business in Europe. Executives close to GM have said that contractual disagreements have caused a rift, and that the split with Universal McCann was no surprise in light of last year's switch in the U.S. to Starcom MediaVest.

Aegis said the company will create a separate unit to handle the new GM business in Europe.

Related stories:

• Hannity Gives Away Cars for GM


• GM Yanks Sponsorship from 'Survivor'


• GM Offers Gas Discounts as Incentive


• GM Ad Agencies Create New Group


• GM's Lazar: Cable Execs Need to Move to VOD, Broadband


• GM to Consumers: Create Ads for Us


• GM Planworks to Broadcast, Cable Outlets: Bring 'Best Offer'


• Media Buyer of the Year: GM Planworks' Mike Rosen


• GM, Mazda, Discuss Ad Strategies


• GM Sales of SUVs Plummet 50 Percent


• GM Rides Over Ford, Chrysler in Employee Pricing Battle


• GM Conducts Biggest Digital Launch in Its History


• GM Adspend Up, P&G Down in First Half of Year


• GM Extends Employee Discount Yet Again


• GM, LA Times Agree to Disagree


• GM: Fewer Sitcoms, More Live Events


• GM: Two Inefficiencies in Media Buying Process


• GM Teaser Campaign Foiled by Inept Coding