Leo Burnett denies wrongdoing as it is investigated over 'billing irregularity'

by Staff,, Brand Republic 30-Jul-02, 11:55

WASHINGTON - Leo Burnett is to be investigated over so-called 'billing irregularities' for its work on the US Army's advertising account, just a week after Ogilvy & Mather looked certain to have lost its grip on the $152m (£96m) US anti-drug campaign.

Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick, a Democrat from Michigan who campaigns for racial equality in the US advertising industry, is reported to be investigating several other government contracts over billing irregularities. She has not named the contracts, but has said that some concerns have been raised over the $150m ad campaign Leo Burnett has created for the Army.

However, according to reports, Leo Burnett has strongly denied the claims, saying: "There is absolutely no impropriety going on with the Army contract."

Leo Burnett was appointed to the Army's account in June 2000. In January 2001, it unveiled a new slogan for the Army: "An Army of one". It has since developed a series of ads featuring real soldiers. One of the most recent ones, "ice soldier", was directed by Tony Scott, the British director of Hollywood films 'Top Gun', 'True Romance' and last year's 'Spy Game'.

Before appointing Leo Burnett, the US Army had missed its recruiting goals in three out of five years.

Ogilvy & Mather looks set to be barred from working on the US government's anti-drug campaign, after overbilling for the work.

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