TEST:ChevronTexaco Consolidates $150 Million Account With Mediaedge:cia

NEW YORK -- WPP Group's Mediaedge:cia has been awarded ChevronTexaco's $100 million pan-European media planning and buying account, which now gives the media network responsibility for the company's global $150 million account.

Mediaedge:cia previously had the San Francisco-based oil giant's $50 million U.S. business. The new deal is part of a wider arrangement with WPP involving ChevronTexaco's European above-and below-the-line accounts, a source said. In the U.S., the account is handled by the shop's San Francisco office, which led the pitches for the agency in the review, sources said.

Mediaedge:cia declined to comment and ChevronTexaco did not return phone calls.

Mediaedge:cia beat out Interpublic Group of Cos. Universal McCann and Publicis' Zenith Optimedia Group and Starcom MediaVest, the incumbent on the pan-European account.

In addition, sources said, WPP's Young & Rubicam and Wunderman, both London, will handle the creative accounts.