ctober has not been good to Paris-based ad agency holding company Havas. First Volkswagen AG said it was evaluating its $800-million global media services account. Then chip maker Intel put its worldwide corporate advertising and media buying and planning accounts under review.

The two moves, less than a week apart, affect two of Havas' main agency networks - Euro RSCG Worldwide and Media Planning Group, which has Volkswagen of America's media services account. In the US, Volkswagen spent $450 million in measured media in 2003, according to TNS Media Intelligence/CMR. The creative portion of the account, handled by Arnold Worldwide, Havas' third network, is not part of the review. ... more