Speculation flared up again this week about a possible merger between Frankel and Leo Burnett USA’s iLeo division.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Tuesday that a merger is in the works between Chicago-based Frankel and iLeo, Burnett’s 15-month-old direct, database and digital marketing division.

Observers expect Publicis Groupe, which owns Frankel and Burnett, to consolidate all marketing services, including Frankel and iLeo, by the end of the quarter. Frankel is likely to take a leadership role in any new marketing services organization, sources said.

A Burnett spokeswoman called the rumors “speculation.”

Frankel and Burnett work together on McDonald’s Corp. business and jointly pitched Gateway, but have announced no plans to merge. Rumors of a possible merger have floated around the Chicago agency community for several months.

The Sun-Times reported that Frankel hasn’t renewed its lease, which could signal a move into Burnett’s building four blocks away. But Frankel has another nine-to-12 months to sign the lease on its existing office space.

In 2003, Frankel won business from Diageo, the U.S. Army, Johnson & Johnson and Coca-Cola Co. The agency has narrowed its focus to pitching big accounts, rather than pursuing a wide range of new business.

(Promo) Speculation flared up again this week about a possible merger between Frankel and Leo Burnett USA’s iLeo division.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Tuesday that a merger is in the works between Chicago-based Frankel and iLeo, Burnett’s 15-month-old direct, database and digital marketing division.

Observers expect Publicis Groupe, which owns Frankel and Burnett, to consolidate all marketing services, including Frankel and iLeo, by the end of the quarter. Frankel is likely to take a leadership role in any new marketing services organization, sources said.

A Burnett spokeswoman called the rumors “speculation.”

Frankel and Burnett work together on McDonald’s Corp. business and jointly pitched Gateway, but have announced no plans to merge. Rumors of a possible merger have floated around the Chicago agency community for several months.

The Sun-Times reported that Frankel hasn’t renewed its lease, which could signal a move into Burnett’s building four blocks away. But Frankel has another nine-to-12 months to sign the lease on its existing office space.

In 2003, Frankel won business from Diageo, the U.S. Army, Johnson & Johnson and Coca-Cola Co. The agency has narrowed its focus to pitching big accounts, rather than pursuing a wide range of new business.

Speculation flared up again this week about a possible merger between Frankel and Leo Burnett USA’s iLeo division.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Tuesday that a merger is in the works between Chicago-based Frankel and iLeo, Burnett’s 15-month-old direct, database and digital marketing division.

Observers expect Publicis Groupe, which owns Frankel and Burnett, to consolidate all marketing services, including Frankel and iLeo, by the end of the quarter. Frankel is likely to take a leadership role in any new marketing services organization, sources said.

A Burnett spokeswoman called the rumors “speculation.”

Frankel and Burnett work together on McDonald’s Corp. business and jointly pitched Gateway, but have announced no plans to merge. Rumors of a possible merger have floated around the Chicago agency community for several months.

The Sun-Times reported that Frankel hasn’t renewed its lease, which could signal a move into Burnett’s building four blocks away. But Frankel has another nine-to-12 months to sign the lease on its existing office space.

In 2003, Frankel won business from Diageo, the U.S. Army, Johnson & Johnson and Coca-Cola Co. The agency has narrowed its focus to pitching big accounts, rather than pursuing a wide range of new business.