Newswire

MindShare Wins $400-500 Mil. Gillette Media PrizeLOS ANGELES—WPP Group's MindShare in New York has won Gillette's $400-500 million consolidated global media planning and buying account. MindShare bested the two incumbents, Omnicom Group's OMD and Interpublic Group's Universal McCann, both New York. Consultancy Roth Associates in New York handled the search. Novell Picks JWT for $30 Mil. AccountNEW YORK—Novell has selected WPP's J. Walter Thompson in New York to handle its estimated $30 million creative and media account, the client said. The win followed a review that was nearly scuttled, said sources. The other finalists were Mullen in Wenham, Mass; Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos in Boston; and the creative incumbent, SicolaMartin in Austin, Texas, which used resources of sister shop Young & Rubicam in New York, said sources. Omnicom's OMD in Dallas had handled media. 2 Plead Guilty in Color Wheel CaseNEW YORK—Federal prosecutors secured guilty pleas last week from two previously unnamed defendants in connection with an ongoing Justice Department investigation into alleged fraudulent billing practices involving Grey and graphics supplier The Color Wheel, both in New York, sources said. Gabriel Casas, a Color Wheel salesman, has pleaded guilty to bid-rigging and mail fraud, sources said. The other defendant, Howard Marlin, owner and CEO of Caysun Graphics Ltd., a New York-based printing house, has pleaded guilty to overbilling and tax fraud for his dealings with an unnamed co-conspirator at Impact Communications, a New York ad agency, sources said. Publicis' Bcom3 Acquisition a Done DealCHICAGO—Publicis Groupe completed its acquisition of Bcom3 Group last week, creating the world's fourth-largest ad holding company, with revenue of nearly $4.8 billion. The acquisition was approved by 90 percent of Bcom3's shareholders last week and was approved by Publicis shareholders in June. Bcom3 partner Dentsu will own 15 percent of the merged holding company.Fallon Realigns Top ManagementCHICAGO—Fallon reorganized its top management, with the end result being fewer direct reports to chairman Pat Fallon. Fallon Minneapolis general manager Eric Block was named chief operating officer of the agency's worldwide network. Former COO Irv Fish is staying on in an advisory role. Account-services manager Mike Buchner will succeed Block as Minneapolis general manager. Minneapolis co-president and executive creative director David Lubars was named president and ecd for Fallon North America, a new post. Minneapolis co-president Rob White takes over as sole president of the Minneapolis office, while Alison Burns remains president of the New York office. Associate cd Bruce Bildsten will manage creative out of Minneapolis; New York cd Kevin Roddy will continue to oversee creative in New York. White, Burns, Bildsten and Roddy will report to Lubars. Block, Lubars, Duffy Worldwide chairman Joe Duffy and Fallon chief financial officer David Dabill continue to report to Fallon. California Lottery Rebids Media DutiesLOS ANGELES—The California Lottery said it is still unable to name a final winner in the review for its five-year, $125 million ad account, and it is asking shops to submit new bids relating to media costs. IPG's Foote, Cone & Belding in San Francisco appeared to have won the account in July, following a review that included the incumbent, Grey, as well as McCann-Erickson and Omnicom's DDB, all in Los Angeles. However, DDB filed a protest over media costs submitted by FCB and its partner in the pitch, IPG's Initiative Media North America in Los Angeles. A letter sent last week from lottery director Joan Wilson to finalists states that the lottery is granting DDB's protest; the lottery is expected to issue an amendment to the RFP on new price/cost proposals.Newswire RoundupWPP's Young & Rubicam this week breaks two TV spots for Accenture that retain the "Innovation delivered" tagline, which was introduced in February. One spot is set at an opera; the other, in a doctor's office. Each revolves around the idea that the company both generates and executes business ideas. … Tierney Communications dropped its remaining protests with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue over its selection of MARC USA for the state's three-year, $90 million lottery business. MARC in Pittsburgh can now proceed with contract negotiations with the business it was awarded following a review in February. A civil lawsuit filed by Brian Tierney, CEO of Tierney in Philadelphia, remains pending. … Ads featuring altered Norman Rockwell paintings for The New York Times from Bozell in New York won the $100,000 Grand Prize at the Athena Awards last week. … Match.com cut to four agencies in the review for its estimated $20 million account: DDB in Dallas and Chicago; Goodby, Silverstein & Partners in San Francisco; Mullen in Wenham, Mass; and Publicis in the West in Seattle, said Select Resources International in West Hollywood, Calif., which is leading the search. … Hampton Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites is seeking a shop for its $5-10 million creative account, sources said. Contenders are the incumbent, DDB in Dallas, and Martin/Williams in Minneapolis, both Omnicom shops, and IPG's FCB in Chicago and Irvine, Calif., sources said. … Russ Klein has been named chief marketing officer of 7-Eleven North America. Klein previously ran his own private investment firm, Whisper Capital, and has worked for Chicago shops such as Bcom3's Leo Burnett and IPG's FCB. Klein, who fills the spot vacated by Bob Merz in August, said he will not alter 7-Eleven's agency roster: Omnicom's GSD&M in Austin, Texas; and Camelot Communications, TPN and Dieste Harmel & Partners, all in Dallas.

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