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BellSouth's Public Relations in ReviewATLANTA—The public relations account of BellSouth Corp. is in review. Letters of invitation were sent to the following companies in Atlanta: Porter Novelli, Cohn & Wolfe, GCI Group, Hill & Knowlton, Manning & Selvage and 360. A decision is expected by April 1. Wanamaker & Associates in Atlanta is the consultant. Account billings are undisclosed.Mail Boxes Etc. Begins Agency SearchLOS ANGELES—Mail Boxes Etc.'s $20 million account is in review. Ogilvy & Mather in Los Angeles had handled creative work for the San Diego-based postal retail center chain for the past two years; Ogilvy's Mindshare was responsible for media buying. Zimmerman & Partners in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has been awarded the client's $8.5 million regional advertising business and will pitch for the national account. According to Zimmerman, the shop has been named interim agency of record. A decision is expected by the end of June.Cox Communications Names 4 FinalistsATLANTA—Cox Communications has narrowed the field of contenders in the review for its $20 million advertising account to four finalists: Martin/Williams, Minneapolis; Trone Advertising, Greensboro, N.C., and Atlanta;Doner, Southfield, Mich.; and Cramer-Krasselt, Chicago. RedDragon Consulting in Atlanta is conducting the review. Representatives at the agencies declined comment. Cox Communications officials did not return phone calls. A final decision could come as early as next week, sources said. (See separate story page 7.)HMS Partners, Fahlgren Call Off MergerCHICAGO—The proposed merger of HMS Partners and Fahlgren has been derailed. Discussions have stalled over the direction the combined company would take, HMS chief executive officer Rick Milenthal said. The two Columbus, Ohio-based agencies had signed a letter of intent for a merger in late January that would have folded Fahlgren into HMS/Hallmark. A memo sent to HMS employees said talks were ended over differences that included "reporting relationships, vision for the future, common values and a common point of view on how to operate a growing, profitable company."Smith Takes Key Role at Mullen HeadquartersBOSTON—Brooke Smith has joined Mullen as corporate communications manager. Previously, she served in the same capacity at Mullen/LHC, the Wenham, Mass.-based agency's Winston-Salem, N.C., unit. In her new headquarters role, Smith will oversee all corporate communications for the agency, including its North Carolina and Detroit offices. ShipChem Selects J. Walter ThompsonATLANTA—J. Walter Thompson has won the advertising account of ShipChem. The agency's Atlanta office bested crosstown rivals Ogilvy & Mather, Fletcher Martin Ewing and Fricks/Firestone in a review. Work for the local logistics provider includes branding, creative and media buying in business-to-business publications. Annual billings are undisclosed.

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