Goodyear Continues Focus on Generating Demand; Names GSD&M and Digitas to Agency Roster

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Apr 12, 2010, 12:00 ET

AKRON, Ohio, April 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: GT) has announced its selection of two new agencies to its roster for the North American consumer tire business. Effective April 12, GSD&M Idea City, based in Austin, TX, and Digitas, of Boston, MA, will be working with Goodyear's other agency roster members, to help continue generating demand for Goodyear brands.

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GSD&M Idea City will become Goodyear's brand agency of record, and Digitas will serve as Interactive agency of record.

"In this rapidly changing market and consumer environment, it is vital a strong consumer brand such as Goodyear continue its leadership – even in the midst of six straight years of share growth. These exciting new relationships with GSD&M Idea City and Digitas will allow us to enhance the skill set of our total agency roster, enabling improved communications to consumers and shoppers across the total marketing spectrum. This team, in combination with our world class distribution network, positions Goodyear to continue to win in the future," said Scott Rogers, chief marketing officer for Goodyear's North American Tire consumer business.

"Goodyear is one of the great American-based global brands," said Duff Stewart, president and chief executive officer of GSD&M Idea City. "We're honored by this opportunity to help extend its leadership position."

Said Glenn Engler, president, Digitas Boston, "A continued focus on demand generation is why Goodyear is a market leader. We're thrilled to work with Goodyear to bring the digital space to life on their behalf and deliver best-in-class digital communication."

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs approximately 69,000 people and manufactures its products in more than 57 facilities in 23 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

GSD&M Idea City is a leading marketing communications and advertising company that has helped grow some of the world's most successful brands. For more information, go to www.IdeaCity.com. GSD&M Idea City is part of Omnicom Group, Inc.

Digitas is a leading digital marketing agency, helping the world's biggest brands develop, engage and profit from building profitable relationships with their customers. The Agency pairs media, marketing, technology, creativity, imagination and analytics to ignite emotional bonds between people and brands. Digitas also operates the brand content platform, The Third Act:, the independent healthcare marketing brand, Digitas Health, as well as Prodigious Worldwide, the world's only standalone, global digital productions company. With sister agencies Starcom MediaVest, ZenithOptimedia and Denuo, Digitas is a member of Publicis Groupe's VivaKi -- a global digital knowledge and resource center that leverages the combined scale of the autonomous operations of its members to develop new services, new tools, and new partnerships.

Paris-based Publicis Groupe S.A. (Euronext Paris: FR0000130577) is the world's third largest communications group, the world's second largest media counsel and buying group, and a global leader in digital and healthcare communications. With around the world activities spanning more than 104 countries on five continents, the Groupe employs as many as 44,000 professionals.

SOURCE The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company