Bay State smoke-OUT

Arnold, as expected, was retained last week for the $8-14 million advertising account of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Tobacco Control Program.

The Boston agency beat Modernista! and Allen & Gerritsen, the only other agencies that submitted written applications to pitch the high-profile business.

Arnold initially picked up the account three years ago when it acquired crosstown shop Houston Herstek Favat. Though state law mandates that the account be periodically reviewed, most regional players took a pass, citing Arnold’s track record of award-winning DPH campaigns and its status as agency for the American Legacy Foundation’s national anti-smoking program.

A&G, Watertown, Mass.,