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NISSAN SAYS ALL IS WELL WITH TBWA CHIAT/DAY
LOS ANGELES-Nissan Motor USA offered its vote of confidence for its agency, TBWA Chiat/Day in Venice, Calif., amid speculation last week that Nissan was interested in seeking a second agency resource. “We’re all the way with Chiat/Day,” said Nissan representative Debra Sanchez-Fair. “We have no plans to change or add any other agencies.” Earlier changes in top management and recent shifts in the company’s marketing department prompted the speculation.
SILICON GRAPHICS TRIMS LIST; 2 FINALISTS REMAIN
LOS ANGELES-Grey Advertising in Los Angeles and incumbent CKS Partners in Cupertino, Calif., have been eliminated from the review for Silicon Graphics’ $40 million account, sources said. Still believed to be in contention are Arnold Communications in Boston and McCann-Erickson in San Francisco.
GOODBY WINS CRACKER JACK BUSINESS
SAN FRANCISCO-Goodby, Silverstein & Partners here has been selected as the agency for Frito-Lay’s estimated $10 million Cracker Jack ad account. The client and agency were in final negotiations late last week. Frito-Lay acquired the brand from Borden, Columbus, Ohio, late last year. Other contenders for the account were Jordan, McGrath, Case & Taylor, New York, and Suissa Miller, Los Angeles.
OMNICOM MOVES CLOSER TO GGT BUYOUT
NEW YORK-On Friday, Omnicom Group’s ownership of London-based GGT went above 60 percent, virtually assuring the acquisition would be completed soon.
SCUDDER SELECTS 4 FINALISTS IN AGENCY REVIEW
NEW YORK-Scudder Kemper Investments has whittled its list of contenders to four finalists in the review for its estimated $15 million corporate ad account. They are: Gotham and Grey Advertising, both in New York, Saatchi & Saatchi in Toronto, and Impact Communications, a unit of Foote, Cone & Belding in Chicago, sources said. Saatchi and Impact are incumbents. Shops eliminated were Heater Advertising in Boston, W.B. Doner in Southfield, Mich., as well as Grace & Rothschild and Angotti, Thomas, Hedge, both in New York. Heater and Doner were incumbents. Boston consulting firm Pile and Co., which is conducting the search, declined comment.
KIRSHENBAUM LOSES A PIECE OF CITIBANK ACCOUNT
NEW YORK-Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners here no longer handles advertising for Citibank’s student credit card services, sources said. Billings were not available. Sources said Young & Rubicam, which won Citibank’s global account last summer, would inherit the work. KB still handles Citibank’s AAdvantage card, which is tied to American Airlines. Although some sources speculated that Y&R would absorb that business as well, others noted there is a conflict with the agency’s United Airlines business. The client did not return calls; KB officials declined comment.