Hotline

GMO Hears Audible’s Call
SAN FRANCISCO–Goldberg Moser O’Neill has won the $6-10 million account of Audible, Wayne, N.J., which provides downloadable audio programming through its Web site at www.audible.com. GMO will create an online and offline campaign to drive people to the site.
Connelly Replaces Seergy at Nissan
LOS ANGELES–Jed Connelly has replaced Michael Seergy as vice president and general manager of Nissan North America’s Nissan division. Seergy, who has been with Nissan since 1990, resigned last week to pursue automotive opportunities on Wall Street, according to a company statement. Connelly’s new duties include oversight of advertising and marketing. Seergy, who joined the Carson, Calif.-based car company’s headquarters from Nissan’s Northeast region about a year ago, recently collaborated with TBWA/Chiat/Day, Playa del Rey, Calif., on its new “Driven” ad campaign.
Reviews Roundup … Toshiba to Narrow
Toshiba America, Irvine, Calif., will narrow its list of 25 contenders for its $30 million laptop computer sales business to semifinalists by early next week, sources said. Gardner, Geary, Coll & Young is in final negotiations with The Learning Co., Cambridge, Mass., for an estimated $6 million assignment, following a review, said sources. The other finalists were Citron Haligman Bedecarrƒ Euro RSCG and Leagas Delaney, both in San Francisco [Adweek, April 12]. GGC&Y will launch a fall campaign to promote The Learning Co.’s Reader Rabbit software for children, said sources. Final contract negotiations between Stamps.com and BBDO West, Los Angeles, fell through last week for the client’s estimated $16 million business. “We couldn’t come to terms,” said BBDO West president Tom Hollerbach. The Santa Monica, Calif., client is now contacting other agencies, according to sources. The company declined to comment. The California State Automobile Association (Northern California, Nevada and Utah territories) has selected finalists in the review for its estimated $11 million business. Incumbent Bozell/Seattle; Suissa Miller, Los Angeles; Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, Boston; and Highway One, San Francisco, are competing in review, which is being handled by Select Resources International, Los Angeles. A decision is expected in June. … Cliff Scott, president of The Scott Group, Agoura Hills, Calif., is conducting a search for an agency to handle an undisclosed startup entertainment-based e-commerce company. Billings are estimated in the $10-12 million range. California shops with experience in the category are preferred. Five finalists will be selected this week, with a decision by June.
For the Record
Frank Lowe, chairman of the The Lowe Group, was misidentified in a caption accompanying his photo in the National News section [Adweek, May 3]. … Saatchi & Saatchi Los Angeles was invited but declined to participate in the Zcentral review [Adweek, May 3].