Marianne Fey to Oversee Buick National and Retail Ad Accounts at McCann in Detroit

BIRMINGHAM, Mich., June 22 -- Mirroring General Motors' efforts to further connect brand and retail messaging in driving sales, McCann Erickson's Detroit office has promoted Executive Vice President, Group Account Director Marianne Fey to oversee both Buick national and retail advertising accounts at the agency. The announcement was made today by Garry Neel, chief executive officer at McCann in Detroit.

Fey has previously managed McCann/Jay, a wholly-owned subsidiary of McCann's Detroit office based in Rochester, N.Y., overseeing Buick's retail advertising groups, which were created to service GM's Local Area Marketing Program (LAM). Adding national brand advertising for Buick to her existing responsibilities is a natural fit for Fey, and a strategic move by McCann to best serve its Buick clients.

"Marianne has built one of the best retail teams for GM . . . that's not just my opinion, it's confirmed by the evaluation scores her team has been given by Buick regional management and Buick dealers," said Neel. "She will bring that same winning attitude to the Buick national account group."

"We are entering a critical growth phase for Buick and we must ensure that our focus is on both driving retail sales and building a clear and sustainable brand image as a platform for the future," said Neel. "Combining direct responsibilities for both brand and retail has not been done before at this level, but I am confident this is the right move in a challenging new environment."

Fey has had numerous achievements in her 24 years of advertising experience, but her most dramatic business accomplishment was her role in turning a single-person advertising company into a $60 million national advertising agency. Fey opened the Detroit satellite office of The Competitive Edge in 1980. Under her leadership, the single-person office grew into a thriving agency specializing in automotive dealer group advertising.

In 1990, Marianne was named president of The Competitive Edge. In 1991, the agency was purchased by McCann Erickson, renamed "McCann/SAS," and Marianne was appointed deputy general manager to handle brand and retail advertising activities for General Motors' GMC Truck division. She continued her rise through the McCann Erickson ranks over the years to her recent position on the agency's multi-million dollar Buick retail/dealer advertising account.

Fey has also received numerous honors throughout her career, including Crain's Detroit Business' "100 Most Influential Women in Metro Detroit" in 1997, the Women's Ad Club of Detroit's "Woman of the Year" in 1994, Crain's Detroit Business' "90 for the '90s" in 1990 and the American Women in Radio and Television "Outstanding Woman in Top Agency Management" in 1990. She has also served as the lead account person for the agency's pro bono branding assignment, helping Inforum, formerly the Women's Economic Club, and the largest women's business forum in the Midwest, in changing its name and brand identity.

Fey holds a bachelor's degree from Oakland University in Rochester, Mich., and a master's degree in business administration from Michigan State University in East Lansing. She resides in Birmingham, Mich., with her husband John and their five-year-old daughter Veronica.

McCann's Detroit office creates advertising and integrated marketing communications programs for Buick Motor Division; General Motors Corporation (Corporate Advertising); Chevrolet (Global Brand Advertising); Delphi; Honeywell Consumer Product Group's Prestone, FRAM and Autolite divisions; Agilent Technologies; Capital One and a variety of other clients.

McCann Worldgroup is one of the world's largest marketing communications companies, with operations in 131 countries. It is part of the Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. .