Much Ado in HAP Review By David Kile

DETROIT - The DDB Needham team that managed the Health Alliance Plan account before the account went into review has surfaced at the marketing arm of a leading art studio here,

Former DDB co-president Bruce Duffey, senior vp-account services John McLellan and at least one other former DDB staffer have joined, at least temporarily, McNamara Communications, an affiliate of McNamara Associates, to pitch the HAP business. Duffey was dismissed from DDB. McLellan recently resigned.
Though McNamara’s interest in pursuing an account as a full-service agency is a bit surprising, the larger issue may be whether it is a conflict of interest for McNamara to compete for an ad account against agencies that its affiliate regularly serves as an art studio and production house. Another question is whether McNamara can win the business with former DDB executives, including one that recently resigned, without drawing legal inquiries from DDB.
‘I don’t feel we have done anything wrong,’ said McNamara head Lou DeMaris. ‘We were asked to pitch this business by Health Alliance.’ DeMaris said the communications company has been pitching business like this for years without conflict. ‘This is the first time I’ve ever heard of our work being at conflict with McNamara Associates.’
The review, which is said to include Stone & Simons Advertising and Kolon, Bittker & Desmond, both of Troy, could be decided this week.
Copyright Adweek L.P. (1993)