NEW YORK Interpublic Group’s Tierney Communications has withdrawn from the race for The Albert Co.’s creative account, according to Barbara Gans Russo, president of the client’s New York operations.
Russo described the move as a mutual decision between the agency and client that was made following the June departures of Tony DeGregorio, chief creative officer at the Philadelphia agency, and Jay Devine, head of the shop’s public relations division. Russo worked with DeGregorio in the past at Publicis in New York, where she was head of production and he was president, chief creative officer.
Left vying for the business are Trahan, Burden & Charles in Baltimore, and New York shops DiNoto, Christy MacDougall Mitchell Bodden and The Concept Farm. Final presentations are set for October, Russo said. New York consultancy AAR Partners is managing the review.
Based in Carmel, Calif., The Albert Co. negotiates with talent agents and music publishers on behalf of ad agencies to arrange celebrity appearances or secure song rights for campaigns. Deals the company has brokered include getting Brooke Shields for PBM Products’ Bright Beginnings baby formula and landing the Rolling Stones song “Start Me Up” for Ford Motor Co.
This will be the first time The Albert Co. has hired an ad agency in its 27-year history. Work will target ad-agency professionals. A media budget has not yet been determined, Russo said.
Tierney Exits Albert Co. Search
