Burnett, McDonald's end Singapore relationship

McDonald's and Leo Burnett have ended their 15-year relationship in Singapore, with the Publicis Groupe agency releasing a statement disclosing it has resigned the S$10 million business. <BR> <BR> "Our relationship with McDonald's across Asia Pacific remains unaffected by our resignation of the business in Singapore," said Leo Burnett MD Kurt Viertel in the statement. "We are now going our separate ways in that market and are doing so amicably, wishing McDonald's every success going forward." <BR> <BR> The news follows a period of turbulence at Leo Burnett's Singapore office, which has seen three managing directors in less than a year. In addition, McDonald's other global AOR - DDB - handled the fastfood giant's successful Fan-tastic rice burger campaign in Singapore earlier this year (Media, 13 January). Whilst McDonald's has yet to name its new Singapore agency, DDB is expected to be in a strong position to secure the account.