News Wire

Clairol Parts With Intuition NEW YORK--The Intuition Group, a WPP Group unit, has ended its relationship with the Clairol division of Bristol-Myers Squibb by mutual consent. The shop here had been handling the Natural Instincts, Revitalique, Ultress and Loving Care brands, worth about $35 million in billings. Sources said the client is poised to reassign the brands to roster shops The Kaplan Thaler Group and Foote, Cone & Belding, both New York. Agency principal Linda Kaplan Thaler denied knowledge of the shift; both FCB and the client could not be reached. WPP confirmed it will not close the Intuition unit, created in 1997 as a women's marketing-oriented conflict shop for J. Walter Thompson, which handles significant Helene Curtis business. Omnicom, WPP Post Year-End Results NEW YORK--Omnicom Group said net income jumped 28 percent to $285.1 million for the year ended Dec. 31, from $222.4 million in 1997. The holding company's diluted earnings per share increased 23 percent to $1.68, from $1.37 a share over the same period a year ago. Omnicom, which owns DDB Needham Worldwide, TBWA Worldwide and BBDO Worldwide, among others, said global revenues from commissions and fees increased 31 percent to more than $4 million. Domestic revenues, powered by acquisitions and new business, soared 30 percent, while international revenues were up 32 percent. Separately, WPP Group, based in London, reported nearly 10 percent growth in both revenues and gross billings for the year ended Dec. 31, per preliminary results. Gross billings rose to $13 billion, while revenues grew to $3.2 billion. Sears May Shift Ad Duties CHICAGO--Sears, Roebuck & Co.'s change in advertising strategy may result in a shift of duties among roster shops Ogilvy & Mather and Young & Rubicam, company officials said. Officials from the Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based retailer told Wall Street analysts last week that it will use a more "value-oriented" approach in its advertising and move away from its longstanding "Softer Side" campaign. Both Ogilvy in Chicago and Y&R, New York, have been asked to present ideas for a new message. Euro Acquires Majority in Citron SAN FRANCISCO--Euro RSCG Worldwide, a unit of Havas Advertising, last week acquired a majority stake in Citron Haligman Bedecarrƒ. Terms were not disclosed. Agency executives said the deal allows San Francisco-based Citron to offer integrated services to its clients via Euro's network. Bob Schmetterer, chairman and CEO of Euro RSCG, said the shop is "very admired" and the unit of Paris-based Havas is not finished looking for new acquisitions. The purchase is the second for Euro in less than a month, following its deal for Jordan McGrath Case & Partners. Barilla Lands at Y&R NEW YORK--Young & Rubicam here bested an undisclosed agency to win Barilla's estimated $70 million global account, previously handled by Grey Advertising, New York. Y&R previously had domestic duties for Barilla in Italy. Newswire Roundup Morris Tabaksblat, 61, chairman of Unilever N.V. and vice chairman of parent Unilever PLC, will retire May 4, to be succeeded in both posts by Antony Burgmans. The 52-year-old Burgmans is currently vice chairman and a director of Unilever Bates Latin America has promoted N. Michael Dudynskay to regional managing director, effective immediately. Dudynskay, who will be based in Miami, will head new business and client service efforts, reporting to chairman Stanley Bendelac. The post had been vacant for several years George Murphy, 43, has been named general marketing manager for Ford Motor's Ford division, as of March 1. He will be responsible for marketing all Ford vehicles in the U.S. J. Walter Thompson, Detroit, is the unit's national creative agency. Media is at JWT's Ford Motor Media The Richards Group, Dallas, defeated five undisclosed shops for a $25-30 million creative and media task for Excel Communications' 10-10-297 long-distance service. Richards will expand the current "Fine Print" campaign from incumbent EMM Creative of Bethesda, Md. [Adweek, Feb. 15]. EMM remains as Hispanic agency Brown & Williamson will unveil new packaging this week for its Carlton cigarette brand, along with ads via Grey Advertising, New York The Artustry Partnership here has been awarded the creative portion of the $13 million ad account for Today's Man, based in Moorestown, N.J. There was no review Mount Sinai New York University Medical Center and Health System awarded its $5-10 million account to Grey Advertising. The review followed the merger of Mount Sinai and NYU's clinical operations and included NYU agency Grey and Mount Sinai shop Grace & Rothschild, both New York Tierney & Partners, Philadelphia, beat three other contenders to retain creative and media duties for Exelon, an affiliate of Peco Energy. Tierney pitched the estimated $8 million account with sister True North shop Bozell Direct, New York Residential mortgage provider LoanWorks has awarded its $5 million ad account to DGWB. The Irvine, Calif., shop bested two others. Ad duties had been handled by a local design firm Allen & Gerritsen in Watertown, Mass., won the $6-8 million corporate ad account of Thomson Financial Services, Boston, after a review Following a review of undisclosed shops, Ground Round Restaurants in Braintree, Mass., has chosen McKay Communications here and Blitz Media, Natick, Mass., for a regional TV project. Billings were undisclosed.

Brand Marketing

News Wire

Adweek Staff

About

Subscriptions

Events

Publications

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

Adweek Staff