Hotline

Sony Seeks Shop for $100 Mil.+ European Account

LOS ANGELES—Sony Corp. has launched a review for its estimated $100 million-plus pan-European creative account, now at Saatchi & Saatchi, London. It is not known if the incumbent will defend. The electronics giant is also reviewing its pan-European media buying business; that all-roster-shop search includes Omnicom’s OMD, WPP Group’s MindShare and Publicis Groupe’s Zenith Media, a Saatchi sister shop.

Horizon Takes $80 Mil. Jack in the Box Media Prize

LOS ANGELES—Jack in the Box restaurants has awarded its $80 million media planning and buying account to Horizon Media, Los Angeles. The incumbent was Carat in Los Angeles. Sources said the client also spoke with Palisades Media Group in Santa Monica, Calif., and other undisclosed agencies. Secret Weapon Marketing in Santa Monica retains creative chores.

Media First, Deutsch/LA Get More BK Duties

NEW YORK—Burger King will consolidate the bulk of its estimated $300 million North American advertising and marketing account at Interpublic Group by giving additional assignments to Media First International and Deutsch/LA, the client confirmed. The shift had been expected [Adweek Online, July 12]. Deutsch will add field-marketing duties in the U.S. and for English-speaking Canadian markets, assignments currently handled by Bcom3’s D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles. D’Arcy sister agency MediaVest will relinquish North American media buying to Media First.

Chrysler Suspends $50 Mil. Multicultural Review

DETROIT—Chrysler has put its $50 million multicultural review on hold until one of the agencies within the three finalist alliance groups can obtain minority certification. PASS, a partnership between Arnell Group president Peter Arnell and African-American recording industry executive Steve Stoute, is working with the New York/New Jersey Minority Purchasing Council to obtain the certification.

Greenberg Tapped as ADC Board President

NEW YORK—Robert M. Greenberg, 54, founder, chairman and chief creative officer of R/GA, New York, was named president of the board of the Art Directors Club, New York, effective last week. Greenberg will hold the office for a two-year term. He succeeds Richard Wilde, chairman of the School of Visual Arts’ advertising and graphic-design departments.

CVS Initiates $35 Mil. Media Search

BOSTON—CVS has begun contacting shops about handling its $35 million media account, sources said. The Woonsocket, R.I., client last month chose Interpublic Group’s Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos to succeed Bates, New York, on its creative account, following a review. A CVS representative declined comment. It is unclear if Hill, Holliday will be invited to pursue CVS’ media duties.

Emmy Nominees Are Named

NEW YORK—The 54th annual Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Commercial went out to: “Amnesia” by Young & Rubicam, New York, for Computer Associates; “Broadway Tribute” by BBDO, New York, for Visa; “First Words” by Leo Burnett, Chicago, for Disney; “Move” by Wieden + Kennedy, Portland, Ore., for Nike; “Nail Gun” by TBWA\Chiat\Day, San Francisco, for Fox Sports; and “Out of Towner” by DDB, Chicago, for Anheuser-Busch. The Emmy will be given out on Sept. 14 at the Creative Arts Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

Nestlé Realigns Global Pet-Care Brands

CHICAGO—Fallon in Minneapolis will take lead global strategic and creative duties for the Purina brand, as well as for Dog Chow, Puppy Chow, O.N.E. and Pro Plan, in a realignment by Nestlé Purina Pet Care. Also, the Vevey, Switzerland, company awarded DDB European duties for Cat Chow, Kitten Chow, Friskies and Gourmet. Avrett Free & Ginsberg in New York will handle Fancy Feast, Friskies, Cat Chow and Kitten Chow in North America, and work with McCann-Erickson WorldGroup for duties in Latin America and Japan.

Newswire Roundup

Layoffs loom at BBDO in Chicago, which lost its $25 million Allied Domecq business in a strategic shift by the client from advertising to promotions. BBDO handled the Kahlua, Stolichnaya and Beefeater brands, the client and agency said. There was no review, and no decisions have been made in terms of what agency will handle the brands, an Allied Domecq representative said. … Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos and Ogilvy & Mather face off this week in a shootout being staged by Terra Lycos, sources said. Up for grabs is the estimated $20 million Lycos business handled by Boston-based Hill, Holliday; the Terra brand, with Ogilvy in New York, is unlikely to move, sources said. … Audi of America is seeking an agency to handle direct marketing for the relaunch of its flagship A8 sedan this fall, the client confirmed. Lead agency McKinney & Silver, Raleigh, N.C., is not participating. … National City Bank is set to send proposal requests to shops for its $10-15 million business, the client confirmed. Incumbent Doe-Anderson in Louisville, Ky., is not defending. Consultancy Rojek Cutcher Group in Cleveland is handling the process. … Wolf Group in New York has won The Wiz’ creative account, besting Cliff Freeman and Partners (pitching with Zimmerman & Partners), Fallon, Bates, Hampel/Stefanides and The Concept Farm, all New York. … The International Advertising Festival in Cannes will again host its Direct Lions competition during the same week as its other competitions at the festival in June 2003. This year, the Lions Direct events were originally scheduled for the week prior to the main events, but were rescheduled by popular demand.