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Cliff Freeman Splits With Coca-Cola

NEW YORK—Cliff Freeman and Partners has severed its relationship with the Coca-Cola Co., the agency confirmed. The New York shop had handled the $5 million KMX energy drink account in the U.S. and had handled Fanta overseas since 1996. Billings on that account are estimated at $15 million. Sources said that in a letter to Coke dated Aug. 29, the agency resigned the accounts. Coke officials could not be reached. An agency executive said the shop resigned the business because of Coke’s shift in its approach to global marketing and “its focus on larger networked agencies like IPG.”

Havas Withdraws Tempus Bid; WPP to Take Over

NEW YORK—Citing deteriorating market conditions due to the ad recession and the devastating impact of the recent terrorist attack, French holding company Havas is ending its quest to purchase Britain’s media-services network Tempus, allowing a clear path for a takeover by Britain’s...