Hoover Splits With FCB; Moves to Ten United
CHICAGO—Hoover Co. has shifted the corporate branding portion of its $50 million ad business to Ten United in Pittsburgh from Foote, Cone & Belding here, FCB confirmed. FCB cited creative differences for the split. The agency's portion of the business amounted to about $20 million. Ten United, part of Columbus, Ohio-based Ten Worldwide, already handles co-op and print for the North Canton, Ohio, vacuum-cleaner maker. Media planning, also at FCB, is part of a consolidation review under way by Hoover parent Maytag. FCB is not part of that review. FCB won the Hoover business in November 1999. A Hoover representative was not available for comment.
McDonald's in CMO Search; DDB Readies New Ads
CHICAGO—McDonald's is considering internal and external candidates to fill a global marketing director post, a company representative said. In telling franchisees about the search, CEO Jack Greenberg acknowledged that marketing problems have plagued the company, whose lead agencies are DDB and Leo Burnett, both in Chicago. Five branding spots from DDB that continue the "Smile" campaign were shown last week during a franchisee's convention. One shows a father trying to coax his son to jump off a pier into a lake by promising a trip to McDonald's. The spots are not yet scheduled to air.
3 Shops Vie for Long John Silver's
CHICAGO—Long John Silver's is considering three shops for its broadcast creative ad account, a company official said. Vying for the $20 million business are Cliff Freeman and Partners, New York; Campbell-Ewald, Warren, Mich.; and Foote, Cone & Belding, Chicago, said Mike Baker, LJS' vp of national marketing. Creative Alliance of Louisville, Ky., and Empower MediaMarketing in Cincinnati will continue to handle print and media duties, respectively. The Louisville client split with Fallon Minneapolis last week after two years over differences on direction, sources said. A decision is expected by mid-June. LJS spent more than $20 million on TV advertising last year, per CMR.
Executive Shuffle at General Motors
DETROIT—Annette Lloyd, director of advertising and sales promotion for General Motors' Pontiac brand, is leaving that post for a similar position at GM Card, GM's credit-card unit, sources said. Replacing Lloyd at Pontiac will be Mark-Hans Richer, currently GMC advertising and sales promotion director. No replacement has been named for Richer. A Pontiac representative declined comment.
Pulte and D'Arcy Call It Quits
DETROIT—Pulte Corp. has parted ways with D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles, Troy, Mich., sources said. Jim Lesinski, Pulte's vp of marketing, could not be reached, but sources said the home builder has begun contacting agencies for its $5-10 million account. D'Arcy had the account for less than two years and is not participating in the review.
For the Record
DETROIT—A pull quote in the April 22 Midwest edition of Adweek incorrectly identified Carmichael Lynch as a contender in the HoMedics review.