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BBDO Loses Havoline Account to Y&R

SAN FRANCISCO—Young & Rubicam has won the$20 million Havoline Oil advertising account, agency executives said. The San Francisco office of Y&R has been charged with handling all marketing for the Havoline brand, including advertising, point-of-purchase and sponsorships, as well as planning and buying of media. The account had most recently been handled by BBDO in Houston, which crafted the “Add more life to your car” tagline. The shift comes on the heels of a merger of Havoline’s parent company, Chevron, and Texaco. BBDO executives could not be reached for comment.

Allyn Joins Fleishman-Hillard Network

DALLAS—Fleishman-Hillard has acquired independent public relations firm Allyn & Company, a specialist in issues advocacy, public affairs and political media. The Dallas-based firm has offices in Mexico City, Phoenix, Ariz., and Austin, Texas. In addition to corporate clients such as 7-Eleven and Bank of America, the agency is known for serving as a media consultant to Mexican president Vicente Fox during his election bid. The agency has also produced independent advocacy television ads supporting the 2000 campaign of President George W. Bush and handled some 200 campaigns for U.S. senators, governors, members of Congress and other candidates. The agency will continue to operate as an independent Fleishman-Hillard company, with founder Rob Allyn as president.

Healthpoint Taps Griffith Phillips for Projects

DALLAS—Healthpoint, a DFB Pharmaceuticals company, has chosen Griffith Phillips Creative to develop advertising for two of the company’s major divisions. Dallas-based GPC will create print advertising, product logos, package design, direct mail and collateral for products within the client’s wound care and dermatology divisions. Billings were not disclosed. The client is based in Fort Worth, Texas.

NKH&W Is Forming Regional Network

CHICAGO—NKH&W is in the early stages of developing a regional network of up to seven or eight offices. The Kansas City, Mo., agency opened an office in Tulsa, Okla., in December and will do the same in Denver in the next few months, said Peter Kovac, chief executive officer of the $65 million shop. Additional offices will be established within a 500-mile radius of the shop’s headquarters in the next 18 months, Kovac said. The opening of the Tulsa location comes as the agency begins work with a new Oklahoma-based client, Hilti of America. Billings on the account were not disclosed.

Suntory Water Narrows Agency Search

ATLANTA—Suntory Water Group has cut its agency search to four shops. Cole Henderson Drake, Creaxion, Match and Fletcher Martin Ewing, all in Atlanta, presented creative assignments to the client last week. A decision is expected in late January. Billings for Suntory are undisclosed. Sources said work in 2002, which would be limited to strategic planning and creative for the Crystal Springs brand, would likely increase when media buying chores are added in 2003. Suntory is based in Atlanta.