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Sheehan to Lead McDonald's Creative at DDB CHICAGO--Former Hill, Holiday, Connors, Cosmopulos creative director Michael Sheehan is joining DDB in Chicago as evp/executive creative director on the McDonald's account. The previous top creative on the business, group creative director John Staffen, has had his role significantly reduced [Adweek, June 14]. Sheehan, who worked on Dunkin' Donuts and John Hancock at HHCC, quit that shop in May. "I thought he had the right heart and the right mind to work on McDonald's," said DDB chief creative officer Bob Scarpelli. Sheehan's arrival comes at a time of flux, as McDonald's and its agency are searching for a way to evolve the 2-year-old "Did somebody say McDonald's?" campaign. Anderson Defends Client Inquiries NEW YORK--Consultant Arthur Anderson last week defended his fact-gathering tactics for two clients, a week after the American Association of Advertising Agencies advised its members not to participate in a questionnaire ranking top clients by gross income and "best" and "worst" relationships. "It's voluntary. They don't have to answer," said Anderson of the New York-based Morgan Anderson Consulting. "I think the 4A's is making a mountain out of a molehill. And the 4A's is biting the client hand that feeds them." Two questionnaires were cited by the 4A's, one for an unidentified $25-60 million retail client and another for a client seeking ideas on how to improve relationships with agencies. VNU to Buy Nielsen for $2.7 Bil. NEW YORK--Dutch media company VNU last week agreed to buy Nielsen Media Research for $2.5 billion in cash and the assumption of $200 million in debt. Nielsen, the largest TV audience measuring firm in the U.S., will join a stable that includes Competitive Media Reporting. Nielsen operates a similar research service, MonitorPlus, which may be combined with CMR. Jerry Hobbs, VNU USA chairman/CEO, called the Nielsen acquisition "a perfect fit" with CMR and the company's SRDS, Claritas, Interactive Marketing Systems and Scarborough units. VNU USA also owns BPI Communications, parent of Adweek. Drugstore.com Picks Fallon CHICAGO--Internet pharmacy Drugstore.com has named Fallon McElligott its lead agency after a fast-track review. Other contenders were undisclosed. Billings were estimated at $30 million. Officials with the Bellevue, Wash., company said they were impressed with the Minneapolis shop's record. McCann-Erickson, Seattle, had been working for the company on a project basis. Sears Taps New Shop, Promises 'Good Life' CHICAGO--Carmichael Lynch has been working on projects for Sears Roebuck & Co.'s Tire Group and could be named lead agency for the division shortly, sources said. The move comes as the Hoffman Estates, Ill., retailer is repositioning itself in a new campaign from Ogilvy & Mather, Chicago, and Young & Rubicam, New York and Chicago. The work showcases all Sears' products and their uses throughout the day. It is themed, "The good life at a great price. Guaranteed." Carmichael Lynch is in Minneapolis. Ogilvy was the previous Tire Group shop. Tenneco Packaging Splits With DDB CHICAGO--Tenneco Packaging is searching for a new agency to handle its Hefty brands after parting ways with DDB here. The Lake Forest, Ill., company cited conflicts within the DDB network, believed to be the Clorox Co. Company officials could not be reached for comment. The company said DDB's successor will be "a creative shop with strong packaged goods credentials." Tenneco spent more than $12 million on Hefty brands last year. Burger King's Top Marketer Departs MIAMI--Burger King's svp of marketing, Jim Watkins, is leaving to become COO of Beringer Wine Estates. Watkins, who joined BK under a repositioning orchestrated by then-marketing chief Paul Clayton, helped shape a new creative platform for the brand with the line "It just tastes better" from Ammirati Puris Lintas, New York. Clayton will assume responsibility for marketing until a successor is named. Clayton hired APL in the early '90s, and as such its relationship with BK is seen as secure. News Roundup GSD&M has won the $15 million account of How2HQ, a network of lifestyle and self-help Web sites. The Austin, Texas, agency beat The Richards Group, Dallas, and Ground Zero, Santa Monica, Calif. Cadbury Schweppes North America, Plano, Texas, shifted creative duties on Hawaiian Punch to Foote, Cone & Belding, Chicago, and media chores to The Media Edge, New York IWant.com, a service designed to connect buyers, sellers and traders, is seeking an agency to differentiate its brand in the face of competitors, such as eBay. The Burlington, Mass.-based firm launched last week with assistance from TFA/Leo Burnett Technology Group in Boston, which was invited to pitch an expected $10-20 million account Della Femina/Jeary and Partners in New York has been awarded creative and media planning duties for Casio's G-Shock and Baby-G brands following a review of undisclosed agencies. The account had been at AG in New York, which now handles Movado. Billings are just under $5 million Ziccardi & Partners in New York has been named lead agency for Bestselections.com, a site that features retail goods from small stores. Billings are $6-10 million Manning, Selvage & Lee, New York, bought Agnew, Carter, McCarthy in Boston. Terms were undisclosed. The new entity will be called Agnew, Carter/MS&L. For the Record The Dell Refurbished account that was awarded to Makos Advertising, Marketing and Design in Austin, Texas, had been at Ammirati Puris Lintas in New York on a project-only basis. It was not part of that agency's $80 million small business and home account [Adweek, Aug. 16]. Dell Refurbished is valued at $2 million.

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