hotline

A H&R Block Audits Hill, Holliday for Ad Business LOS ANGELES--H&R Block has narrowed its search for an agency to handle its $100 million account to six contenders. They are Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, Boston; Campbell Mithun Esty, Minneapolis; DDB, Chicago and San Francisco; Lowe Lintas & Partners and Publicis, both in New York; and The Richards Group, Dallas. The incumbents are: Y&R Global Advertising and Impiric (formerly Wunderman Cato Johnson), both in Chicago; Bravo Hispanic, Nicholson Interactive and The Media Edge, all in New York. Select Resources International, Los Angeles, is the consultant. A decision is expected in June. A Sovereign Hires Arnold Communications BOSTON--In an unexpected move, Sovereign Bancorp and Gearon Hoffman have ended their brief relationship and the client has hired Arnold Communications for its $5 million regional account, sources said. Bob Hoffman, president of Gearon Hoffman, Boston, confirmed an amicable parting of the ways but declined further comment. "It was a bad marriage," said a source close to the situation. Sovereign official Kristin Tallman said through a subordinate that she would have no comment; Arnold executives could not be reached. Based in Wyomissing, Pa., Sovereign tapped Gearon last year to craft ads introducing the bank to the local marketplace [Adweek, Dec. 20]. Arnold also handles the $25 million account of PNC Bank, Pittsburgh. A MTV Maintains Review Still On BOSTON--MTV Networks last week refuted reports that Crispin Porter & Bogusky in Miami has been awarded a corporate branding assignment [Adweek, April 17]. "The review is still in progress, and no one has been awarded the business," said client official Irene Fu. Still competing against Crispin for the assignment are DiNoto Lee in New York, Modernista! in Boston and the in-house creative unit of MTV, according to Fu. Sources previously told Adweek that Crispin Porter was at work on a branding assignment for the New York unit of Viacom. And late last week, a source insisted MTV has indicated that Crispin Porter "had the idea that they are going to go with." Executives at Crispin Porter and Modernista! did not return calls or declined comment. A Reliacast Taps TFA/Leo Burnett BOSTON--TFA/Leo Burnett Technology Group has been tapped for the seven-figure advertising account of Reliacast, an Internet software firm. The assignment for the Boston agency includes online and offline brand advertising, collateral materials and Web-site design. A Snyder Reports Increased Revenue BOSTON--Snyder Communications, parent company of New England's largest traditional advertising agency Arnold Communications, last week reported revenue of $157 million, an 18-percent increase over the same period last year. Net income for the period fell to $9.6 million from $15.2 million. Snyder's stock was trading at around $23 per share at press time on Friday. The deal announced in February by Paris-based Havas Advertising to take over Snyder is expected to close in June or July.

Brand Marketing

hotline

Adweek Staff

About

Subscriptions

Events

Publications

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

Adweek Staff