-WPP/GroupM agency Maxus once again lands in the news roundup as it’s now won L’Oréal’s media planning and buying account in the UK and Ireland. The contract will begin Jan 1. and is worth around £135m (approximately $216m) in billings. Maxus beat out PHD and ZenithOptimedia in the review.
-More U.K. news as former Mother creative directors Alex Holder and Oli Beale are joining Stuart Smith and Ben Moore as partners at Anomaly London. Holder and Beale will also serve as CDs.
-Twelve-year-old bi-coastal production company Harpoon Pictures has signed director Tony Franklin for commercial representation.
-Astrid van Essen will join the London office of MediaMonks, which works with the likes of Saatchi, Mother and AMV BBDO, as managing director, effective Nov. 1.
-According to Tel Aviv-based BBR Saatchi & Saatchi, there’s really no fancy presentation necessary in a new spot for the Ford Focus (above).