[TORONTO]Â Segal Communications will end their representation of Facebook media in Canada on March 31st, 2009.
The relationship between the two began in January 2007, when Segal Communications (an IPG company) inked a deal to represent Facebook advertising media and “sponsored groups” in Canada. Out of that deal, a small sales team of about five people have been hitting the streets over the last couple of years selling Facebook wares to hungry advertisers looking for the unique targeting capabilities Facebook offers.
Facebook has earned some pretty impressive numbers since Segal first signed on. Nearly 900,000 Canadians had profiles at that time, ballooning to 11,663,800 in the 26 months since. This rapid Facebook adoption boosted the relatively small country of Canada, with a population of about 33 million, to the country with the largest profile-to-population ratio in the world at 1:3. The USA is currently at about 1:10.
Q1 2009 media sales have been the best yet in Canada for Facebook. Rumors of this change have speculated for some time as job postings for Facebook in Toronto have circulated on the internet since October. Street speculation expected this relationship to end last December 31st. In a time of recession, it begs the question … why now?
The following email was issued to current Facebook customers yesterday;
I am thrilled to let you know that we intend to open our first Facebook office in Canada in the coming weeks.  The Toronto office will be the new home to our advertising sales, account management and marketing teams for Canada.   Putting a team on the ground has always been our goal, and we are assembling a team that can provide direct support and expertise for our Canadian advertisers.
We want to thank the sales team at Segal Communications who have represented Facebook for the past two years.
We’re committed to working closely with you to find ways to create more relationships and connections between your brands and consumers on Facebook.
I’ll share more details in the coming weeks. In the mean time, please work with Josh Bloom (jbloom@facebook.com) and Jana Beiswenger (jana@facebook.com) on any existing campaigns, potential opportunities, or if you have any questions.
Best Regards,
MikeMike Murphy
VP, Global Sales
mike@facebook.com
A global restructuring of Facebook may be underway. New brand “fan page” templates have just been launched, another user profile facelift has been announced, and several new languages have been added in recent months with more coming. Facebook offices are rumoured to be opening and/or expanding in Berlin, Stockholm, Dublin, Atlanta and now Toronto.
My inside source tells me the relationship between Segal and Facebook is ending on amicable terms. Isn’t that what we all say when we break up?
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9 Responses to “Facebook and Segal Ending Media Relationship in Canada”
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March 13th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Facebook and Segal Ending Media Relationship in Canada http://bit.ly/lIzjt
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
March 13th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Facebook to open Canadian office, ending deal with Segal Communications for Media. http://bit.ly/lIzjt
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
March 13th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Hope this will make it easier to get adv’t approved?! RT@CollinDouma Facebook to open CND office, ending deal w/ Segal http://bit.ly/lIzjt
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
March 13th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Hope this will make it easier to get adv’t approved?! RT@CollinDouma Facebook to open CND office, ending deal w/ Segal http://bit.ly/lIzjt
March 13th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Facebook and Segal Ending Media Relationship in Canada http://bit.ly/lIzjt
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
March 13th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Retweeting @CollinDouma: Facebook to open Canadian office, ending deal with Segal Communications for Media. http://bit.ly/lIzjt
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
March 13th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
This is great news. I would love to work for Facebook. The Gen Y in me would be uber happy about being a Facebook employee.
March 13th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Hey Duane, Facebook has some job postings listed in the footer nav. Some of them have recently disappeared (presumably filled) … get in there!
March 13th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Segal & Facebook ending relationship in Canada http://tinyurl.com/bjcngy
This comment was originally posted on Twitter