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Gateway Selects Initiative for $250 Mil. AccountNEW YORK—Gateway tapped Initiative Media to handle its $250 million media buying and planning account last week. Initiative in Los Angeles prevailed after a two-month search involving several national media agencies, including New York shops Media Planning and Universal McCann, the incumbent. The company has decided to keep creative in-house. Randy Bixler, Initiative's director of client services, is expected to run the business from San Diego, where Gateway is based, sources said. Grey Closes In on $40-50 Mil. Aetna PrizeNEW YORK—Grey has edged past McKinney & Silver in the competition for Aetna's $40-50 million ad business. Sources said New York-based Grey got the nod from the Hartford, Conn.-based insurer's review committee, but must now make a final presentation in the weeks ahead to Aetna's new chief executive officer, Dr. John Rowe. Alex Kaufman, Aetna's head of advertising and brand management, declined comment, as did executives at Raleigh, N.C.-based McKinney and Grey. Richards Lands $15 Mil. Giant Eagle BizDALLAS—Grocery-store chain Giant Eagle has selected The Richards Group to handle its $15 million account,following a review. The Dallas agency bested finalists Doner in Southfield, Mich., and Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos in Boston. Agency principal Dale Hruby led the pitch for the Pittsburgh-based client.Bestbuy.com Taps DigitasCHICAGO—Bestbuy.com has awarded its relationship marketing account to Digitas in Boston, following a review, sources said. Contenders included Carmichael Lynch in Minneapolis and Tribal DDB in New York, sources said. The budget was undisclosed. Last week, the Minneapolis company awarded its $50 million national broadcast buying account to Starcom in Chicago. Grossman Elevated at TWBA LOS ANGELES—TBWA Worldwide has promoted Neal Grossman to chief financial officer, North America. Grossman, previously CFO at TBWA\Chiat\Day in Playa del Rey, Calif., reports to Tom Carroll, promoted to president of the Americas earlier this month [Adweek, April 9], and Jonathan Ramsden, CFO of TBWA Worldwide. The promotion continues a series at TBWA Worldwide, where within weeks of each other, Laurie Coots and Carl Johnson were named to worldwide posts as chief marketing officer and chief operating officer, respectively.McCann-Erickson Hires Goodby CreativeSAN FRANCISCO—McCann-Erickson in San Francisco, which began assembling a staff to handle the $300-350 million Microsoft business last year, has finalized the management team on the account with the addition of another executive creative director. Dante Lombardi, 35, was named ecd for Microsoft at the shop last week. Lombardi was formerly an associate creative director at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners in San Francisco, where he worked with brands including Pepsi and Nike.Buick Bows More Inclusive TaglineDETROIT—Buick has unveiled a new tagline, "It's all good," in anticipation of the introduction of the first truck to its lineup in more than 80 years. The General Motors division's ads were previously tagged, "Isn't it time for a real car." New spots for the Buick Century from lead agency McCann-Erickson in Troy, Mich., broke last week with the new tag, which will run with all models. Buick is launching the Rendevouz SUV later this year.Hallmark Moves Trade, Retail to Leo BurnettCHICAGO—Hallmark consolidated its trade advertising and retail promotions account with Leo Burnett in Chi cago after a review. The Chicago-based agency has handled Hallmark's $90 million consumer business for 12 years. Incumbent Valentine Radford in Kansas City, Mo., defended. Other contenders were Bernstein-Rein and Barkley Ever green & Partners, both in Kansas City.Newswire RoundupBozell in New York has laid off 28 staffers, or 6 percent of its work force. A Bozell representative declined to comment on the specific factors behind the layoffs. … Della Femina Rothschild Jeary and Partners in New York was tapped for Fairfax, Va.-based American Management Systems' estimated $5-10 million business. The shop was also awarded Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Center of New York's $1-3 million account after a review with six other undisclosed contenders. … The Yellow Pages Association in Berkeley Heights, N.J., has launched a review for its $3 million account. Combustion in New York is handling the review. … The California Department of Health Services has cut to three in a review for its Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section account, worth an estimated $20 million over three years. Contenders are Lawrence, Mayo & Ponder in Newport Beach, Calif., and Sacramento, Calif., shops Runyon, Saltzman & Einhorn and Ogilvy Public Relations. … Hormel moved its Turkey Store business to BBDO in Minneapolis, its lead agency, which also handles Hormel's Jenni-O turkey business. The accounts are worth $15 million combined. … Robert Reifenheiser was promoted to svp, group communications director and Scott Downs was promoted to associate communications director in the strategic communications planning department of Saatchi & Saatchi in New York. Reifenheiser was formerly vp, associate media director. He will handle media duties for Reynolds Metals, Procter & Gamble's Sunny Delight, Kodak and General Mills Collaborative Marketing. Downs was formerly media planning supervisor; he will oversee media for Procter & Gamble's Physique and Head & Shoulders.

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