- Steve McClellan

NEW YORK Intel has awarded its $300 million global media account to Omnicom Group's OMD after a review, the client has confirmed.

A cut to three finalists was made in early March. OMD and Publicis Groupe's Starcom, both in Chicago, and the incumbent, Interpublic Group agency Universal McCann in New York, remained in contention.

"Each of the finalists impressed us, but OMD gave us a stronger sense of possessing world-class media industry leadership and state-of-the-art business intelligence and analytics," said Nancy Bhagat, Intel's vp of sales and marketing and director of integrated marketing.

Final presentations were held two weeks ago.

Publicis' Zenith Optimedia and WPP Group's Mediaedge:cia, both here, were cut in the semifinal round. Consultancy Ark Advisors oversaw the search. (Creative was not in play. IPG's McCann Erickson is the lead creative shop on Intel.)

Estimated global media spending for the Santa Clara, Calif.-based client is $300 million. Intel spends $100 million annually in U.S. major media, per Nielsen Monitor-Plus.