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Bank of America Launches $160 Mil.+ Media ReviewLOS ANGELES—Bank of America is seeking an agency for its $160 million-plus media buying and planning account. Contending are Horizon Media and WPP Group's Mediaedge:cia, both New York; New York shops Zenith Media and Optimedia, both jointly owned by Cordiant Communications and Publicis Groupe; along with Bcom3's Starcom, Chicago; and other, undisclosed shops, sources said. Interpublic Group's Universal McCann and WPP's MindShare declined to participate, citing conflicts. It is unclear whether the buying incumbent, IPG's Initiative Media North America, New York, will defend. Media planning and creative incumbent Bozell, New York, plans to defend, sources said. Requests for information are expected to be received this week.4 Vie for $100 Mil. Maytag Media Buying DutiesCHICAGO—Maytag Corp. has narrowed to four shops in the review for its $100 million media buying account. Contending are incumbent Starcom, Chicago, Carat, also Chicago, and Universal McCann and Zenith Media, both New York, sources said. Cut are incumbent Initiative Media North America, Chicago, Mediaedge:cia, also Chicago, and Horizon Media and Media Planning, both New York.Hyundai Dealers Meet With The Richards GroupLOS ANGELES—The Richards Group met with the Hyundai Dealer Association's creative committee last Wednesday to discuss the client's creative account, Hyundai confirmed. The Dallas shop two weeks ago landed Hyundai Motor America's $160 million U.S. creative account. The dealer business is with Bates USA West in Irvine, Calif. Spending through national and regional dealer associations is $180 million, a Bates representative said. Hyundai is also in talks with Carat in Los Angeles for media duties on the dealer account. FCB Seattle Seeks GM to Replace LloydLOS ANGELES—Foote, Cone & Belding is searching for a general manager for its Seattle office, following the departure of Chris Lloyd. Lloyd, 43, starts in mid-May at DDB, Seattle, as managing director of advertising, a new post. Ian Beavis, president of FCB in San Francisco and Seattle, said the agency is looking internally and externally for Lloyd's replacement. Group account director Carole Kitchell will serve as interim gm. Merkley Unit Wins Arthritis DrugNEW YORK—Merkley Newman Harty Healthworks has landed creative and media planning duties on a new arthritis drug that Novartis plans to bring to market in 2004, the agency confirmed. Billings have not been determined, but the drug will compete with Vioxx and Celebrex, which each spent about $130 million last year, according to CMR. Merkley bested Ogilvy & Mather, Bates Healthworld and McCann-Erickson for the work. Global media buying duties are at WPP Group's MindShare.Y&R Retains $75 Mil. Ford Canada AccountNEW YORK—Ten-year incumbent Young & Rubicam last week successfully defended its $75 million Ford Motor Co. of Canada account, following a roster-shop shootout against J. Walter Thompson. Ford's decision came the same day the agencies made final pitches to client executives. The account is handled by Y&R's Toronto office.Grey Global Group, Havas Report Q1 EarningsNEW YORK—For the first quarter of 2002, Grey Global Group's net income was $4.3 million. During the same time last year, net income was $245,000. Also for the first quarter of 2001, Grey's revenue was about $286 million, down 6 percent from about $305 million during the same period last year. Separately, Havas reported first-quarter 2002 revenue of about $460 million, down about 8 percent from the company's revenue for the same quarter a year ago.Ogilvy Lands Over-the-Counter Version of ClaritinNEW YORK—WPP Group's Ogilvy & Mather has won the creative assignment for Clarinex, Schering-Plough's over-the-counter version of its allergy-relief drug Claritin. Claritin's $80 million account is handled by CommonHealth's Quantum Group, Parsippany, N.J. Spending on Clarinex was undisclosed. Ogilvy could not be reached. Newswire RoundupBrian McMahon was named president and CEO of Initiative Trading, a business unit of Interpublic Group's Initiative Media Worldwide. McMahon, who has been with the operation since its inception in 1996, will set the business direction and strategy for the unit. He replaces Bob Ingram, who has left, an Initiative representative said. … Digitas and Home Depot last week were in talks that are expected to result in the shop being hired as the client's direct marketing agency. Following a review of undisclosed shops, Home Depot tapped Digitas for projects and began negotiating terms of a retainer relationship. The Richards Group, Dallas, remains Home Depot's lead agency. … Axa Financial has relaunched its agency search. Billings are estimated at $10-15 million. TBWA\Chiat\Day in New York was in contract talks with the New York client in February. But the client and shop were unable to reach terms, and the client is now talking to other agencies, said sources. … The Illinois Lottery has cut to four shops in the review for its $15-20 million account: Leo Burnett, DDB, J. Walter Thompson and Euro RSCG Tatham Partners, all Chicago. Incumbent Ogilvy & Mather declined to defend. … Arnold in McLean, Va., has cut 16 of its 116 staffers, or about 14 percent of its work force, confirmed agency president Ken Umansky, adding the cuts were mainly due to the loss of Championship Auto Racing Teams' $10-15 million account. … Publicis in the West, Seattle, has landed RealNetworks' $10 million account, the agency said, besting Odiorne Wilde Narraway & Partners, San Francisco, and WongDoody and Sedgwick Rd., both Seattle.

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