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A Subway Eyes Five Shops for $60 Mil. Creative Biz New York--Subway has narrowed its search for a creative agency, sources said. Contenders are: McCann-Erickson, DeVito/Verdi, Messner Vetere Berger McNamee Schmetterer/Euro RSCG, all New York; The Martin Agency, Richmond, Va.; and Mullen, Wenham, Mass. Final creative pitches for the $60 million account are slated for March 22-23. AAR/Bob Wolf Partners, New York, is handling. A Gordon Bowen Resurfaces at Digitas BOSTON--Digitas hired copywriter Gordon Bowen as a consultant on American Express, its largest account. Bowen has held senior creative director posts at both Ogilvy & Mather and Young & Rubicam, and recently has been freelancing from his home in Salt Lake City. Separately, Digitas named Greg Johnson to the new post of worldwide chief creative officer. Johnson had overseen creative for the Boston agency's interactive division. A TiVo Set to Hand Goodby $25-35 Mil. Account SAN FRANCISCO--After a six-week review, TiVo personal television service is in final negotiations with Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, sources said. Billings on the Sunnyvale, Calif., client's national account are $25-35 million. The San Francisco shop bested Ground Zero, Marina del Rey, Calif.; Citron Haligman Bedecarrƒ, San Francisco; and incumbent Campbell-Ewald/West, Los Angeles. A SFM Media/MPG Boards Airline Alliance LOS ANGELES--MPG Worldwide won $30 million in media planning and buying duties for the new marketing alliance of Air France, Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Korean Air, sources said. The assignment includes at least $10 million in U.S. billings, which will be handled by the Madrid-based agency's domestic arm, SFM Media/MPG in New York. MPG is the global media planning and buying agency for Air France and jointly pitched the alliance with Air France creative shop Euro RSCG Worldwide. Euro topped Delta shop Leo Burnett last month to win the creative portion of the alliance account [Adweek, Jan. 24]. A Pharmaceutical Client Shops $40 Mil. Media Account ATLANTA--Wanamaker/MMI has sent questionnaires to agencies on behalf of an unnamed pharmaceutical company for a $40 million media review, sources said. Planning and buying duties are in play, with questionnaires due back mid-month. Wanamaker here declined comment. A Account Activity Lincoln, R.I., pen maker A.T. Cross has launched a review for its $7 million ad account. Pile and Co., Boston, is handling. Pagano Schenck & Kay, Boston, which has worked on various portions of the account since the mid-1990s, will likely pitch Contact-lens maker Wesley-Jessen is considering six shops for its $7-10 million account, sources said. Competitors include incumbent Crowley Webb & Associates, Buffalo, N.Y.; Publicis & Hal Riney and Cramer-Krasselt, both Chicago; Martin/Williams, Minnea-polis; and New York shops DiNoto Lee and Lotas Minard Patton McIver. The Des Plaines, Ill., client markets tinted lenses under several names, including Durasoft and FreshLook. Final strategic and creative pitches are scheduled for the week of March 20.

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