toronto ad agencies Harrod and Mirlin and Goodgoll Curtis are talking about a possible merger.

Brian Harrod, h&m executive vice-president and creative director, confirmed his agency has been talking to Goodgoll Curtis, but that nothing will happen until his agency has completed its negotiations to buy itself from New York-based Interpublic Group.

Three to four weeks

Harrod says he expects to have completed the buyout within three to four weeks.

He stressed that no deal has been reached with Goodgoll Curtis and that an alliance with the agency is one of three options under consideration.

Business sense

He says he and his long-time business and creative partner, Ian Mirlin, are looking for a new associate to add a strong business sense to complement his and Mirlin’s advertising skills.

‘The thing that impresses us about Trevor [Goodgoll, president of Goodgoll Curtis,] is his business abilities,’ Harrod says. ‘That is crucial to running an agency in the 1990s.’