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NEW YORK

McCann-Erickson last Friday closed its Washington office, which was set up five years ago to handle the retail portion of U.S. Airways. That account left the shop late last year, forcing the office to close, a McCann representative said. The New York-based agency is making efforts to absorb some of the six staffers from the Washington office, the rep added.

WPP Group in London reported global gross revenue of $5.8 billion for 2001—up 35 percent from 2000. Minus acquisitions, however, revenue actually declined 3 percent last year, according to WPP. Among the parent company’s advertising networks, J. Walter Thompson generated more global net billings ($377 million) than Ogilvy & Mather ($367 million) and Young & Rubicam ($149 million).

DeLonghi America, Saddle Brook, N.J., tapped Earle Palmer Brown for its ad account, worth an estimated $6-8 million. The New York shop bested four undisclosed contenders. The account had been at Stoner Bunting in Lancaster, Pa.

Harrisdirect, a direct investing venture of The Harris and Bank of Montreal, tapped Messner Vetere Berger McNamee Schmet terer/Euro RSCG to handle its ad account, the agency and client said. Billings were undisclosed, and the win came without a review. Media Planning in New York handles media duties. Both shops are part of Havas. Bank of Montreal recently completed the acquisition of CSFBdirect, an account that New York-based MVBMS won in 2001. Harrisdirect is based in Jersey City, N.J.

The Sagamore, a luxury resort on Lake George in the Adirondacks, named Manhattan Marketing Ensemble its advertising agency. Dana Communications in Hope well, N.J., previously held the $1 million account. The resort is owned by Green Island Associates in Bolton Landing, a division of Kennington in Van Nuys, Calif. Manhattan Marketing Ensemble, which is based in New York, will handle newspaper, magazine, direct mail and collateral duties for the client.

NEW JERSEY

Werum America hired Turchette Advertising Agency. The Towaco-based client, a subsidiary of Werum Software & Systems in Lüneburg, Germany, is a developer and provider of manufacturing-execution systems for the pharmaceutical industry. The Fairfield-based advertising agency is responsible for Werum America’s marketing initiatives, including creating and producing its print ads, Web site, graphics for trade shows and collateral materials. Turchette will also handle the company’s public relations efforts.

The MWW Group acquired branding and design firm Werkhaus Creative Communications. The newly acquired company, which will be known as Werkhaus at MWW, will be part of MWW’s MWW/Savitt division and will be headed by Werkhaus founder and CEO John Burgess. Public relations agency MWW, which is based in East Rutherford, has offices in New York, Trenton, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington and Seattle.

PENNSYLVANIA

Knezic/Pavone Advertising created a teen magazine and compact disc for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape’s campaign to provide information about sexual violence to pre-teens and teens across the state. The Harrisburg-based public relations and advertising agency collaborated with regional arts organization Jump Street, also based in Harrisburg, to produce the CD, which is titled, XPOSE: words to right the wrong. The magazine, Teenesteem, features articles about the dangers of club drugs and online dating tips, among other topics. Copies of both the CD and the magazine will be distributed free across Pennsylvania.

Aegis Therapies tapped Backe Communications to launch its bundled contract-re habilitation services. The Ardmore-based advertising agency will help position and brand the client within its industry with Aegis’ first corporate-branding initiative. The shop will also create a marketing-communications plan for Fort Smith, Ark.-based Aegis, part of healthcare company Beverly Enterprises, also in Fort Smith.

The DePersico Creative Group created packaging for and launched Mrs. Smith’s cream-pie line in conjunction with the company’s marketing department. DePersico is a Havertown-based brand-image-packaging and communications company.