Hotline

New Appointments at Lincoln

DETROIT—Former Mazda North American operations president and CEO Richard Beattie is taking a position with Ford Motor Co. as vice president for marketing, sales and service at Lincoln Mercury in Irvine, Calif. Beattie was previously the automaker’s vice president of investor relations. Jim Rogers was named marketing strategy manager of Ford’s Premier Automotive Group. Anne Belec takes over his role as general marketing manager for Lincoln Mercury.

Fallon Set With New BMW Work

CHICAGO—Fallon Minneapolis is completing production on three new TV spots touting BMW’s M3GTR race car. The spots, which will run on Speedvision, highlight the company’s “obsession with performance,” according to an agency executive. Billings were not disclosed.

Sears Hires Baker for Health Center Work

CHICAGO—Sears, Roebuck and Co. has hired Baker Designed Communications to handle branding and marketing for Sears Health & Nutrition Centers, which will operate inside the Hoffman Estates, Ill., retailer’s existing stores and feature vitamins, bath oils, body lotions and other personal products. Baker, Santa Monica, Calif., will also develop packaging design, promotions and a Web site.

Allstate Signs on as Olympic Sponsor

CHICAGO—Allstate Insurance Corp. has signed on to become the official home and auto insurance sponsor of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Ads touting the sponsorship from Allstate agency Leo Burnett, Chicago, are expected to break this fall.

Chicago Shops Aced by Martin for Sara Lee Work

ATLANTA—Sara Lee Branded Apparel has awarded its $15 million Hanes and Hanes Her Way account to The Martin Agency. The Winston-Salem, N.C., client chose an agency without previous ties. The Richmond, Va., shop prevailed over Chicago’s Leo Burnett, which handles Ball Park Franks, Foote, Cone & Belding, which represents the frozen baked goods and deli foods for Sara Lee, and Ogilvy & Mather, a non-roster shop. Incumbent Mullen/LHC, had been invited to defend, but withdrew last month.

Celebrex Shifted to JWT From Burnett

NEW YORK—Pharmacia and Pfizer, co-marketers of the drug Celebrex, shifted the $80-100 million brand to J. Walter Thompson in New York from Leo Burnett. Celebrex media is now at Burnett sister shop Starcom, Chicago.

InChord Launches in Columbus

CHICAGO—Gerbig, Snell/Weisheimer in Columbus, Ohio, has renamed itself inChord Communications. The Gerbig name will remain on an ad and public relations unit under inChord. Other inChord units include Palio Communications, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and Blue Diesel, Columbus.

BBDO Minneapolis Forms Integrated Unit

CHICAGO—BBDO Minneapolis established an integrated marketing department. The department will be headed by director of integration Timothy Wilson and director of integrated creative Yves Roux.