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Exxon USA Evaluates Media Account DALLAS--Houston-based Exxon USA is reviewing the media portion of its $20 million account, currently handled by the Houston office of McCann-Erickson. McCann senior vice president and account director Jack Collins said the agency will defend. McCann's Houston office directs account service and media for both Exxon USA and its retail unit, Exxon Gasoline. Creative strategy is also handled by the Houston office, with participation from the agency's New York, San Francisco and Detroit staffs, according to Collins. The client also utilizes ex-McCann executive Peter Kim, now heading Bright Sun Consulting in New York, as a strategic consultant. Ackerman Reconfigures D.C.-Area Office DALLAS--Ackerman McQueen, based in Oklahoma City, has shifted its Washington, D.C.-area operations into a wholly owned subsidiary, The Mercury Group, headed by president Tony Makris. Ackerman chairman Angus McQueen said the process of changing the Fairfax, Va., office's d/b/a/ designation has been ongoing for a year. McQueen said most of the office's new business opportunities had been political accounts, which is "not our mainstream business." D.C.-based clients will continue to be served by Mercury and Ackerman's four other offices in Oklahoma City, Dallas, Tulsa, Okla., and Colorado Springs, Colo. Helding Takes New Pizza Hut Ad Post DALLAS--Pizza Hut president and chief concept officer Mike Rawlings drafted Scott Helding to fill a newly created chief advertising officer post at the Dallas-based chain. "Advertising is a huge, huge function and I decided it was important to have someone who is solely responsible for that area," Rawlings said. Helding retains his previous duties as vice president of advertising for the international units of Pizza Hut and sister Tricon Global Restaurants chains Taco Bell and KFC. His appointment coincides with the hiring earlier this month of Randy Gier as chief marketing officer. Rawlings said the reconfigured marketing team has no plans to review the company's ad account held by BBDO in New York. Lord Group Bows Radio Shack's Sprint Store DALLAS--The Lord Group, Fort Worth, Texas, has launched an advertising campaign promoting the launch of the Sprint Store at Radio Shack. Four initial 30-second spots airing over the next eight weeks on network and cable channels use The Jetsons cartoon characters to familiarize viewers with the telecommunications departments located inside the majority of Radio Shack's 6,000 stores. Print ads support in publications including USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Fortune and Forbes. Radio Shack did not disclose spending but said the campaign was one of its largest to date. The company spent $94 million on measured media last year, according to Competitive Media Reporting.

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