- Shahnaz Mahmud

NEW YORK Bank of America has awarded Publicis Groupe's Starcom USA traditional and online media chores for all its U.S. marketing activities following a review.

The appointment eliminates incumbent Prometheus, an Omnicom group agency, which did not defend.

The client spends approximately $250 million annually in measured media, per Nielsen Monitor-Plus.
 
The other contenders were Omnicom's OMD, Interpublic Group's Universal McCann and digital shop Avenue A/Razorfish, a unit of Microsoft's aQuantive.

Starcom will work with BBDO (BofA's lead creative partner), Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos (which handles its wealth mangement business and other projects) and all of other agencies working on the bank's business.

"Starcom offers the kind of experience, thought leadership, innovation and integration required for us to succeed in this dynamic marketplace and continue to grow one of the most recognized financial services brands in the world," said Anne Finucane, chief marketing officer for the bank, in a statement.

Select Resources International in Santa Monica, Calif., helped run the media review for the client.

Prometheus held the business for slightly more than two years.