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Kaiser Permanente Launches Agency Search LOS ANGELES-Healthcare company Kaiser Permanente has begun a search for an agency to handle its 1998 national advertising and direct response campaigns. Billings are expected to exceed $30 million. This is Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser's first national search. Advertising is now handled on a regional basis. Kovel Kresser & Partners in Santa Monica, Calif. handles business in California and other markets. Western International Media, Los Angeles, handles much of the media. The search is being conducted by Richard Roth Associates, a consultancy in Chappaqua, N.Y. Reviews Roundup Dep Corp., Rancho Dominguez, Calif., has named four finalists for the creative portion of its $7-10 million account: Bozell Worldwide, Costa Mesa, Calif., and Los Angeles shops Campbell-Ewald, Dailey & Associates and Davis Elen. Mike Marsak of Effective Marketing Strategies, Marina del Rey, Calif., is the consultant handling the review. . . Among the shops that Baskin-Robbins, Glendale, Calif., has invited to pitch its estimated $18 million ad account are: Deutsch/L.A., and Rubin Postaer and Associates, both in Santa Monica, Calif., plus Team One Advertising, El Segundo, Calif., and TBWA Chiat/Day, Venice, Calif. . . SmarTalk has contacted Italia/Gal Advertising in Los Angeles and Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners in San Francisco for its estimated $10 million account. Other shops contacted: Cohen/Johnson and Asher/Gould, both in Los Angeles, and The Leap Partnership and Deutsch/L.A., both in Santa Monica, Calif. The Advertising Agency Register in New York is the consultant. . . A search has begun for an agency to handle a direct marketing project for Universal Studios Consumer Products Division, Universal City, Calif. Jim Wilson, vice president, marketing, for Universal consumer products group, would neither confirm nor deny a search. Universal Evaluates Media Consolidation LOS ANGELES-Dave Park, president of DDB Needham, Los Angeles, declined comment on industry reports that client Universal Studios has met with shops about its $160 million media business. "We have enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with Universal," he said. "We are proud and continue to be proud of it." Universal executives did not return calls, but sources said the client has met with several shops, including TN Media, New York, and Focus Media, L.A., about consolidating film, home video and theme-park media. Currently, media is handled by DDB Needham, Los Angeles and New York, and Focus Media. Riney Parts With Alamo SAN FRANCISCO-Hal Riney & Partners here has formally split with Alamo Rent-A-Car, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., citing creative differences. Other sources said the agency's relationship with the client deteriorated following the latter's recent acquisition by Republic Industries. Alamo is conducting a search for a new agency to handle its estimated $15 million account.

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