Nikon Trims Review to 3 Finalists
BOSTON—Three shops will make final pitches early next month in the review for Nikon's $20 million account. Havas-owned Arnold in Boston, along with New York Interpublic Group shops Bozell and McCann-Erickson progressed last week following a round of capabilities presentations. Not advancing were BBDO, DDB and Euro RSCG MVBMS Partners, all in New York. The camera manufacturer will name a successor to Fallon, Minneapolis, in mid-February.
In Surprise Move, Bahamas Names Fallon
CHICAGO—Concerns about Interpublic Group's financial woes may have led to the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism awarding its $10-15 million account to Fallon, New York. Fallon had been eliminated in an earlier round of the review, but was invited back in after client officials raised questions about the holding company, sources said. IPG is the parent of Mullen in Wenham, Mass., which was the apparent winner. The other finalist was Martin/Williams in Minneapolis. Previously, IPG's Bozell, New York, and independent ISM, Boston, had split the business. Tourism officials and IPG could not be reached; the shops declined comment.
Mullen Designates Group CD
BOSTON—Jason Stinsmuehlen, named last week as svp, group creative director at Mullen, will partner with group cd Jim Hagar at the Interpublic Group agency's Wenham, Mass., headquarters. The pair will oversee work for General Motors, Nextel, Progress Energy and Federated Investors. Nextel, the agency's largest account, is currently in play, and Mullen plans to defend. Stinsmuehlen spent the past five years at TBWA\Chiat\Day, Los Angeles, where he helped launch Nissan's Xterra and Altima and the Infiniti Q45.
Duffy & Shanley Picks Up Intelligroup
BOSTON—Duffy & Shanley has been selected by Intelligroup, a provider of business software and consulting services, for marketing chores. The Providence, R.I., shop, which won the business following a review, is rebranding the Edison, N.J.-based client. Print ads targeting CIOs and IT managers will appear this spring. Spending is likely to be in the $500,000-1 million range.
Agency Roundup
Partners & Simons of Boston has launched an ad campaign for William Gallagher Associates, the first for the Boston-based insurance firm. Print ads carry the tag, "Ignorance is risk." ...Boston's Hill, Holliday, Connors,Cosmopulos last week ran a full-page ad in The Boston Globe honoring Will McDonough, the sportswriter and TV commentator who died recently at age 67. The ad takes the form of one of McDonough's Globe columns, complete with his caricature and name at the top. The space is left blank, however, with brief text at the bottom reading, in part, "Farewell, dear friend ... From Jack and all your fans at Hill, Holliday." "Jack" refers to Jack Connors, CEO and chairman of Hill, Holliday ... BBK, an independent healthcare marketing agency in Newton, Mass., has reported a $3.8 million revenue increase in fiscal 2002 to $11.5 million.