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Proposal for $50 Mil. Mystery Biz Sent to ShopsNEW YORK—Proposal requests for a $50 million account from an unidentified "consortium" went out last week from Select Resources International. Speculation was the RFP, which went to shops with more than $250 million in billings, involved category-specific advertising, possibly in the food and beverage category. Los Angeles-based SRI asked for credentials, case studies and reels, due back Wednesday. The RFP asks whether agencies have "turnaround expertise." SRI officials declined comment.Cut Looms for AT&T Wireless' $400 Mil. AccountNEW YORK—AT&T Wireless is expected to make a cut this week to three finalists in the review for its $400 million account, sources said. Representatives from six shops attended credentials meetings last week in AT&T's Basking Ridge, N.J., headquarters. Ogilvy & Mather, FCB and Saatchi & Saatchi, all in New York, Leo Burnett in Chicago, TBWA\Chiat\Day in Playa del Rey, Calif., and Fallon in Minneapolis are vying for the work.Layoffs Hit Temerlin McClain, Midwest AgenciesDALLAS—Sources said significant layoffs are planned at Temerlin McClain as part of an effort to restructure in the face of mounting losses. As many as 100 staffers, or 18 percent of the agency's work force of 553, could be affected. Agency executives declined comment, saying only that a major announcement regarding the company's integration into The Interpublic Group of Cos. is expected in 7-10 days. Recent losses include Verizon's DSL account and Nortel's international work. Early last year, the company's $200-300 million J.C. Penney account was awarded to DDB in Chicago. Separately, Campbell Mithun in Minneapolis eliminated 21 jobs, about 3 percent of its staff of 600. Also, Young & Rubicam laid off five staffers in Chicago last week as part of a "restructuring" at the shop, an agency representative said. In February, the agency laid off nine of its then 160 employees.MediaCom Forms Holding Company NEW YORK—Grey Global Group has created a holding company called MediaCom Worldwide to oversee global operations of its MediaCom media planning and buying network. Alec Gerster and Alexander Schmidt-Vogel, chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the MediaCom network, will become CEO and COO of the new unit, a Grey representative said.Account ActivityA decision is expected shortly after pitches two weeks ago for the creative account for CSFBdirect, which could be worth up to $50 million, more than double the previously reported $20 million, sources said. Contenders are Messner Vetere Berger McNamee Schmetterer/Euro RSCG, D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles, Margeotes|Fertitta + Partners and TBWA\Chiat\Day, all in New York, sources said. Incumbent Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners declined to participate. … Audi of America is ending its relationship with troubled i-shop marchFirst and is close to naming another shop to handle its interactive account, said client representative Jennifer Garber. The marchFirst unit handling Audi's interactive work, Whitman-Hart, was recently sold to Divine Inc. in Denver.

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