Publicitas and AZ Medien: Agreement reached
Publicitas and AZ Medien have reached an agreement regarding their continued cooperation in the area of advertising sales. As stated in a press release issued on Thursday, all AZ Medien publications will be marketed in-house by AZ Medien starting January 1, 2010.
This applies to the daily and Sunday editions as well as the free newspapers. However, Publicitas will continue to work together with AZ Medien as an important partner on a non-exclusive basis. Both parties are also endeavouring to reach a further agreement by summer 2010 which, building on Publicitas' new business models, will redefine responsibilities in the areas of digitization, services and infrastructure and regulate them in line with requirements.
The agreement reached between the partners will lead to an adjustment of the organization in the Publicitas branches in the Mittelland region. AZ Medien was able to secure employment for 36 employees as of January 1, 2010. Unfortunately, 11 people had to be made redundant. They are being professionally supported by external specialists with a view to future employment outside the two media companies. A further 23 people have either moved within Publicitas, accepted another challenge externally or are benefiting from Publicitas' early retirement offer. From the beginning of 2010, Publicitas Mittelland will employ around 50 people at five locations who will concentrate on the active marketing of all partner media from the region and the rest of Switzerland. This will ensure that all Swiss publishers and their customers continue to benefit from Publicitas' cross-regional marketing network.
With the decision to operate its own advertising marketing in the future, AZ Medien is once again seeking direct contact with customers, but is also striving for a prosperous cooperation with Publicitas as an advertising intermediary. AZ Medien's own sales and marketing organization will be operational as of 1 January 2010. Responsible for the project are Rainer Sauser as Project Manager and Christoph Marty, Managing Director of Aargauer Zeitung/Sonntag, at company management level.
The agreement reached between the partners will lead to an adjustment of the organization in the Publicitas branches in the Mittelland region. AZ Medien was able to secure employment for 36 employees as of January 1, 2010. Unfortunately, 11 people had to be made redundant. They are being professionally supported by external specialists with a view to future employment outside the two media companies. A further 23 people have either moved within Publicitas, accepted another challenge externally or are benefiting from Publicitas' early retirement offer. From the beginning of 2010, Publicitas Mittelland will employ around 50 people at five locations who will concentrate on the active marketing of all partner media from the region and the rest of Switzerland. This will ensure that all Swiss publishers and their customers continue to benefit from Publicitas' cross-regional marketing network.
With the decision to operate its own advertising marketing in the future, AZ Medien is once again seeking direct contact with customers, but is also striving for a prosperous cooperation with Publicitas as an advertising intermediary. AZ Medien's own sales and marketing organization will be operational as of 1 January 2010. Responsible for the project are Rainer Sauser as Project Manager and Christoph Marty, Managing Director of Aargauer Zeitung/Sonntag, at company management level.
