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Cliff Freeman Wins $50 Mil. Midas BusinessNEW YORK—Cliff Freeman and Partners won the estimated $50 million Midas creative account, sources said. The New York agency bested The Kaplan Thaler Group in New York and Moroch & Associates in Dallas; Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos in Boston; and Square One in Dallas. Carat in New York handles media. Midas broke with Euro RSCG McConnaughy Tatham in May. Starwood Puts $20-30 Mil. in Hotel Duties in ReviewBOSTON—Starwood Hotels & Resorts has placed the combined $20-30 million advertising account for its Westin and Sheraton hotels up for review. DDB in New York, which has handled both creative and media chores, is not participating. A request for proposals was sent last week to 10-12 mid- to large-size agencies; a decision is expected by the first quarter of 2002, a client representative said. Gotham Takes $15-20 Mil. Household Int'l WorkNEW YORK—Gotham has landed ad duties on Household International's $15-20 million account, following a review that included fellow New York shops DDB and Saatchi & Saatchi, J. Walter Thompson in Chicago, The Richards Group in Dallas and Martin/Williams in Minneapolis. A company executive cited the winning shop's "extensive experience" in corporate- and financial-services advertising. Gotham's pitch team included managing partner Melissa Murphy, chief creative officer Lynn Giordano and group creative director Michael Jordan. The search was managed by MagiKbox, a Cos Cob, Conn., consultancy.Temerlin McClain, Mullen/LHC Lay Off StaffDALLAS—Sharply reduced ad spending by American Airlines has forced Temerlin McClain to cut 75 employees. The Irving, Texas, shop had already discharged more than 130 staffers earlier this year. Temerlin had also implemented a 5 percent pay reduction for staff. The total number of Temerlin employees remains in flux as the agency attempts to integrate former staffers of the McCann-Erickson Southwest office in Dallas. Separately, Mullen/LHC dismissed 15 employees last week. The layoffs, which follow a 30-person cutback last summer, affect all departments. The move represents Mullen/LHC CEO Joe Grimaldi's most aggressive attempt to reverse a series of client losses triggered, sources said, by IPG's forced merger of Long Haymes Carr in Winston-Salem, N.C., into Mullen in Wenham, Mass., last winter. Since January, Hanes, Alabama Power and Thomasville Furniture have exited Mullen/LHC, accounting for an estimated $23 million loss in projected billings. Lowe Lintas to Cut More WorkersNEW YORK—Lowe Lintas & Partners plans to further trim its staff this month, said U.S. CEO Paul Hammersley. The agency last week notified staffers of the need for further cuts and offered more generous severance packages to those who opt to leave on their own. Hammersley declined to say how many jobs needed to be cut. During the summer, Lowe Lintas laid off 40-50 staf fers [Adweek, July 23]. That came after the shop cut 18 employees in May and 37 toward the end of 2000. The agency now employs about 680 staffers.Havas to Divide Diversified Agencies GroupBOSTON—Havas is dismantling its Diversified Agencies Group and will in the next month parcel most of the group's 70 shops, which mainly specialize in direct and interactive marketing, design and public relations, among its three other networks: Arnold, Euro RSCG and Media Planning Group. With billings of about $1 billion, the largest DAG agency by far is Wilton, Conn.-based direct-marketing shop Brann. Havas is looking to save $120 million over the next two years by dismantling DAG. Paris-based Havas last week reported a first-half 2001 loss of $6.5 million.Burnett's New Army Work Calls for HeroesCHICAGO—Leo Burnett plans a followup TV spot to a print ad for the U.S. Army that broke last week and indirectly addressed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The spot depicts a closeup of a soldier with the headline, "Every generation has its heroes. This one is no different." The work continues the "Army of one" tag unveiled earlier this year. The Army spends about $100 million a year.Hannon Resigns as Grey S.F. PresidentSAN FRANCISCO—Kieran Hannon, president of Grey's San Francisco office, has resigned his position, the agency confirmed. Hannon, 39, left his job to take care of family matters, according to sources. He has been with Grey for two years, first as evp. Casey Jones, Oracle account director, will likely take Hannon's post, sources said.Newswire RoundupStarcom MediaVest Group's agency-services division, Starlink, was enlisted to handle $50 million in billings for Boston's McCarthy Mambro Bertino, following a review. … Three New York shops are left in the review for French's mustard: Deutsch, DDB and Messner Vetere Berger McNamee Schmetterer/Euro RSCG, sources said. Three other New York shops—TBWA\Chiat\Day, Jordan McGrath Case & Partners and Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners—did not advance, according to sources. Billings are estimated at $12-15 million. New York consultancy Roth Associates is managing the search. … Following a review of undisclosed shops, McCann-Erickson landed creative duties, and its media arm, Universal McCann, won media planning duties on Dimetapp and Anbesol, both owned by American Home Products. Combined billings are estimated at $15-20 million. Dimetapp incumbent Young & Rubicam did not defend. Anbesol incumbent Grey resigned the account when the client awarded it the Advil business.

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