The case for Advertising is now a wholly owned Canadian agency after buying its freedom from previous owner, BBDO Canada.

The new owners are the company’s senior management, consisting of principals Bill Kemp, chairman; Alastair Beattie, president and chief executive officer; and Norman Lehman, creative director.

Case Advertising was started as part of McKim Advertising in 1967 by Dennis Case and John Sinclair, now president of the Institute of Canadian Advertising.

It merged with Lowe Advertising in 1984 as Lowe/Case Advertising, and, in 1990, after the retirement of Norman Lowe, became The Case for Advertising.

Beattie says the move means the firm is no longer locked out of competing in many categories because of conflict with bbdo.

Peter Stringham, McKim Baker Lovick/BBDO president and ceo, says a buyback by Case has been discussed over the past two years.

McKim Communications of Winnipeg, a separate wholly Canadian agency owned primarily by former mbl/bbdo employees, has been bought by D. Cringan Associates, a public affairs firm headed by D. Cringan ceo Drew Cringan.

D. Cringan Associates will move into the McKim premises and the agency will continue its affiliation with mbl/bbdo.

Earlier this month, Spectrum Public Relations of Vancouver, which was owned by mbl/bbdo parent Omnicom Group, was closed when management decided to move on for personal reasons.

The Toronto office still operates.

Thriving Vancouver sister agency VRH Communications has been the target of several offers to purchase, but it is not officially on the block.