Hotline

Pacificare Trims List to 7

LOS ANGELES—Seven West Coast shops remain after the first cut in the review for Pacificare Health Systems’ $15-20 million account. According to consultant Select Resources International, the Los Angeles-area contenders are DavisElen, Grey, Dailey & Associates, Campbell-Ewald/West, Doner, and Foote, Cone & Belding. The agencies were culled from a list of more than 20 shops that were in the review when it launched last month. A decision is expected in mid-December.

Lexus Picks Siegelgale for Branding Project

LOS ANGELES—Lexus tapped Siegelgale in Los Angeles and New York for a 12-18-month branding project. Work includes gathering information from consumers, investors and executive staff about the perception of Lexus and determining “where to take the brand for the next 10 years,” said Lexus vp of marketing Mike Wells. The Torrance, Calif., car maker sent RFPs to 14 shops. Budget and contenders were undisclosed. Team One Advertising in El Segundo, Calif., remains Lexus’ ad agency.

Y&R San Francisco Reduces Staff

SAN FRANCISCO—Young & Rubicam, San Francisco, has laid off 13 workers, confirmed Sally Kennedy, svp/director of business development. “It was a case of rightsizing for the market,” she said. The cuts will “set the agency straight for 2002,” she added. The layoffs come one week after Y&R president and CEO Austin McGhie announced he would be stepping down to pursue a career on the client side after five years at the agency.

Patterson Named President of JWT Technology

SAN FRANCISCO—Craig Patterson was promoted to agency president at JWT Technology Communications Group in San Jose, Calif. JWT Tech, which provides advertising services to clients with tech-oriented audiences, is part of J. Walter Thompson. Patterson, a 30-year veteran in the ad industry, joined JWT Tech as vp of client services in 1998. He succeeds Russ Fujioka, who will stay on as chairman.

Davidandgoliath Staffs Up for Universal Orlando

LOS ANGELES—A month after landing the $30-40 million Universal Studios theme-parks business, davidandgoliath in Los Angeles has added Chuck Meehan as associate creative director and Tricia Ting as art director on the account. Most recently, Meehan was senior copywriter on Saturn and Hewlett-Packard at Publicis & Hal Riney in San Francisco. Ting was an art director on Adidas at Leagas Delaney in San Francisco.

Campaigns Roundup

LOS ANGELES—Nike last week launched a national TV and print effort focusing on the fun of exercising in rain, snow and mud. Created by Wieden + Kennedy in Portland, Ore., ads are themed “Enjoy the weather” and include Olympians Bob Kennedy, Lance Armstrong and Marion Jones. … D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles in Los Angeles is launching a multimillion-dollar national campaign this week for Activision’s videogame release Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3. Later this month, the shop will break spots for Shaun Palmer’s Pro Snowboarder.