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FCB Resigns Midas Creative Business CHICAGO--Foote, Cone & Belding here has resigned creative responsibilities on the $45 million Midas account. Sister agency TN Media will continue to handle media buying for now. FCB quit after learning Midas had contacted several other shops [Adweek, Oct. 12]. "It's important to us to partner with clients who share our values and believe in the importance of building brands," FCB Chicago president Brian Williams said in a statement. "During the past few months, Midas' needs have changed dramatically under new management. It has become clear to us that it is in our best interest to part company." Midas executives could not be reached. Heinz Names Burnett Global Ketchup Agency CHICAGO--H.J. Heinz named Leo Burnett last Friday to handle global advertising and brand positioning responsibilities for its ketchup and other sauces and condiments. Billings are estimated at $50 million. TBWA Worldwide, a non-roster shop, was the other finalist. Heinz roster agencies Euro RSCG Worldwide, Bates Worldwide and DDB Needham Worldwide (which handled ketchup in the U.S.) had been semi-finalists. All three continue to handle other Heinz assignments, the company said. McCann and Gillespie Talks Progressing NEW YORK--McCann-Erickson WorldGroup is making progress in its talks to acquire Gillespie, the $140 million Lawrenceville, N.J.-based direct marketing shop, said sources. One scenario under discussion would make Gillespie part of McCann as a stand-alone shop, retaining its name and management team, sources said. McCann declined comment; Gillespie executives did not return calls. BBDO Taps Former Hill, Holliday Executive NEW YORK--Susan Smith Ellis, a former executive at Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos in Boston, has joined BBDO, New York, as executive vice president, integrated marketing. During her 12 years at the Boston shop, she ran, at various times, the international operation, the New York office and new business efforts. Ellis returns to the agency business after a six-year hiatus. Account Activity International House of Pancakes, Glendale, Calif., hired consultancy Select Resources International in Los Angeles to handle the agency search for the creative portion of its estimated $20 million account. Bozell Worldwide, Costa Mesa, Calif., resigned earlier this month. The client will only consider agencies less than an hour's plane flight away, said an SRI representative Young & Rubicam in New York picked up creative and media duties for Internet community GeoCities, without a review. Billings were estimated at $15-20 million. The Santa Monica, Calif.-based client, claims 2.6 million subscribers Lowe Fox Pavlika here has won the estimated $15 million direct marketing account of Camp Hill, Pa.-based Rite Aid, following a three-month review. Work was handled in-house.

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