Advertising Age - Agency News
Ad, media, direct, PR and promotions agency news: Need-to-know account shifts, personnel moves, and best ideas and campaigns to come out of the agency business.

Dave & Buster's Opens Review for $13M Account
CHICAGO (AdAge.com) -- Casual dining chain Dave & Buster's is seeking a new creative agency. The restaurant/arcade group, which spent about $13 million in measured media last year, according to TNS Media Intelligence, had been with Dallas independent Slingshot for two years.

Cliff Freeman CEO Asked to Leave
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Cliff Freeman & Partners CEO Jeff McLelland was asked to leave the agency, he confirmed today.

CBS Moves Media Buying to OMD
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- CBS Corp. has abruptly moved its media-buying business -- which encompasses promotions for the Showtime cable operation as well as the CBS broadcast network -- to Omnicom Group's OMD from Interpublic Group of Cos.' Initiative, without a review.

Deutsch, ID Media Ranked Among Best Places to Work in NY
Deutsch and ID Media are among the advertising, marketing and media companies included on Crain's New York Business' annual list of the best places to work in the city.

Euro's Cabaco Out After Just Seven Months

Havas' Euro RSCG has ousted Jose Cabaco, its North American chief creative officer of just seven months.

Holliday to Replace Rutman as CEO of MPG North America

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Shaun Holliday is moving to CEO of MPG North America, replacing Charlie Rutman, who becomes a senior adviser to the agency beginning Jan. 1.

Cadbury Picks Horizon for U.S. Media Buying
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Cadbury has awarded its $150 million media buying and planning business for North America to independent agency Horizon Media and Quebec City-based Cossette Media. The agencies participated in the review as a cross-border collaboration through their Columbus Media International partnership, a multinational partnership of independent media agencies.

McCann and Ex-Exec Settle Age-Discrimination Lawsuit
After two and a half years, McCann Erickson and George Hayes, a former 30-year veteran of the agency and its media-buying offshoot, Universal McCann, have reached a settlement in the age-discrimination suit he filed against the UM back in 2006, according to a report.

Campbell-Ewald Scores Buffalo Wild Wings' Local Media Business

CHICAGO (AdAge.com) -- Buffalo Wild Wings, a New York-style chicken chain and sports bar, has selected Campbell-Ewald to handle its local media-planning business, following a review. The agency will also set up an advertising cooperative for the chain's franchisees.

After Nearly 50 Years, BBDO Loses Brand Pepsi in U.S.

NEW YORK (Adage.com) -- After nearly 50 years, BBDO Worldwide has lost its longtime hold on the Pepsi-Cola brand in North America to two Omnicom Group siblings. The beverage giant today named TBWA/Chiat/Day, Playa Del Rey, Calif., communications agency for the Pepsi brand in the U.S.

Why Dentsu Married McGarry
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- At first blush, the pairing of a 107-year-old Japanese behemoth and a 6-year-young New York-based indie shop is an unlikely one, especially given that McGarryBowen hasn't been for want of buyers. With the acquisition of McGarryBowen, Dentsu will benefit from the profile of a known U.S. agency brand and add a host of venerable clients to its roster.

While Everyone Else in Adland Zigs, BBH Zags

LONDON (AdAge.com) -- As the economic downturn worsens and agencies cut costs, Bartle Bogle Hegarty is doing something different: diversifying into products such as vegetarian meals and personal alarms.

Microsoft Moves Zune Account to Crispin

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Microsoft has quietly handed creative duties for its Zune digital music player to Crispin Porter & Bogusky, expanding the ad agency's work for the software giant.

Grey West Wins Additional BMW Accounts

DETROIT (AdAge.com) -- BMW tapped WPP Group's Grey West, San Francisco, for its consolidated four regional dealer accounts and pre-owned vehicle account, a spokesman at the automaker confirmed. Grey will assume the accounts Jan. 1.

Third Quarter Hammers Havas' Growth, Revenue
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Havas today reported organic growth of 5.8% for the first nine months of 2008, but growth dropped to 1.5% in the third quarter, and fell by 1.5% in the U.S. during the third quarter as the U.S. led the worsening global economic slump.

De Nardis Named CEO of OMD Worldwide

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Mainardo de Nardis has been named CEO of OMD Worldwide and will report to Daryl Simm, head of Omnicom Media Group. Mr. de Nardis, who stepped down as CEO of Aegis Media in early May, will start in the first quarter of 2009.

Swarovski Picks MPG for Media Duties
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- MPG has been awarded international media planning and buying duties for Swarovski after a competitive review.

Bill Grogan Doesn't Leave the Ad Biz After All

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Having said he expected to exit the ad game after leaving WPP Group agency Berlin Cameron United six months ago, Bill Grogan has landed at Momentum Worldwide, the event-marketing division of Interpublic Group of Cos.' McCann Worldgroup.

Ex-Dell Exec Casey Jones Responds to His Critics

In a comment posted on AdAge.com, the former Dell marketer talked about his future plans and responded to critics of Dell's controversial agreement with WPP to build new agency to serve the computer-maker.

Wal-Mart Seeking Agency for Marketside Concept

BATAVIA, Ohio (AdAge.com) -- Wal-Mart Stores is talking to agencies about creative work for its fledgling Marketside convenience and fresh-foods stores, inviting as many as seven agencies on Friday to discuss the account, which is separate from the flagship retail brand, according to people familiar with the matter.

Hewlett-Packard Launches Global Media Agency Review

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Hewlett-Packard is currently conducting a review for the media planning and buying business for two of its core business groups. Publicis Groupe's ZenithOptimedia has been the company's global media agency of record since 2004.

Puma Puts Droga5 in Charge of $100M Global Account

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Sportswear marketer Puma has appointed New York-based Droga5 as lead agency for its more than $100 million global marketing account.

Bartle Bogle Joins Heineken Roster

LONDON (AdAge.com) -- Bartle Bogle Hegarty, London, is Heineken Lager's newest ad agency abroad. A Heineken spokeswoman said Bartle Bogle will join an international roster of agencies. She said no lead agency or agency of record had been designated for the brand, but there are other indications that Bartle Bogle will play a prominent role going forward.

Nokia Awards $150 Million Account to Wieden

LONDON (AdAge.com) -- Nokia has appointed Wieden & Kennedy to handle its $150 million global Nseries smartphone business after a pitch against the incumbent, Interpublic Group of Cos.' Team Nokia.

Dentsu Reports 43% Drop in Net Income
LOS ANGELES (AdAge.com) -- Dentsu's net income tumbled and revenue shrank in the six months ended Sept. 30 as the Japanese agency holding company grappled with the slowdown in the economy and ad spending.

Alberto-Culver Aiming for Noxzema Comeback

BATAVIA, Ohio (AdAge.com) -- Alberto-Culver Co. looks to add a heavy-hitting agency to its roster as it enters the final phase of a review for newly acquired Noxzema in preparation for a substantial increase in marketing support behind the long-neglected skin-care brand.

Dentsu Acquires McGarryBowen
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- The U.S. arm of Japanese ad giant Dentsu has inked a deal to buy McGarryBowen, a 6-year-old Madison Avenue indie shop long rumored to be on the block. One executive familiar with the matter noted that the management team at McGarryBowen will remain intact, and the agency will become a wholly owned unit of Dentsu Holdings.

Agency.com Sues iCrossing for Stealing Its Talent
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Omnicom digital shop Agency.com is suing rival firm iCrossing, its CEO, Donald Scales, and a number of top executives for allegedly carrying out an illegal scheme to strip Agency.com of its best employees and key clients like Hilton and 3M.

DHL Grounded in U.S., Madison Avenue
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Today's news that package delivery giant DHL will slash nearly 10,000 jobs and do away with all its U.S. air and ground services due to the sagging economy means another account has dried up on Madison Avenue.

Isherwood Leaves Saatchi After 22 Years

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Bob Isherwood has quit his role as worldwide creative director of Saatchi & Saatchi, citing a need to have "more than one life in my lifetime." His departure from the agency, which is led by Worldwide CEO Kevin Roberts, breaks up one of the longest-standing leadership teams in the agency business.