Hotlines 2: Late-Breaking Industry News

Fast-Food Chain Assigns Creative Duties to CrispinNEW YORK Domino's Pizza, which split with WPP's JWT in June, has selected MDC Partners' Crispin Porter + Bogusky for creative chores following a review, the client confirmed. Adweek.com first reported the agency's selection last week. "Crispin's energy and fresh perspective on our company hit right at the heart of who and what we are," said Ken Calwell, Domino's CMO, in a statement. "Their company is one of the best and brightest in the industry, and I am certain that they will provide a strong brand message for us." Though Miami-based Crispin currently works for fast-food chain Burger King, Domino's did not consider the business a conflict, according to a company rep. Rojek to Manage $75 Mil. Royal Caribbean ReviewBOSTON The Rojek Consulting Group, Cleveland, is managing Royal Caribbean's review for creative and media duties on its estimated $75 million account. The Miami-based client has invited the incumbents, lead creative shop Arnold and media agency MPG, both in Boston, to participate. Alice Norsworthy, client svp of marketing, confirmed the review. Royal Caribbean spent slightly more than $75 million on domestic ads in 2006, about the same as in 2005, per Nielsen Monitor-Plus. In recent years, the cruise line's ads have often featured the Iggy Pop tune "Lust for Life" as the soundtrack. Havas' Arnold, which has handled Royal Caribbean since 1999, lost the creative account of sibling line Celebrity Cruises in January to Omnicom's Element 79 in Chicago. Lapiz, Tapestry Win Allstate's $35 Mil. Hispanic AccountCHICAGO Allstate awarded creative duties on its $35 million Hispanic account to Publicis Groupe's Lapiz and media chores to the shop's sibling agency, Tapestry, both in Chicago, after a review of undisclosed contenders. The Northbrook, Ill., insurer's previous Hispanic agency was La Agencia de Orci y Asociados in Los Angeles. Lapiz and Tapestry's corporate siblings, Leo Burnett and Starcom, both Chicago, handle the client's general market advertising. Network to Screen Fall Shows On NBC.com's Video PlayerNEW YORK NBC has been reworking its video player to up the ante in interactivity and ad opportunities for NBC.com. NBC is aggressively bringing as many of its new TV shows to its revamped video player as possible. The strategic objective was, in part, to evolve ad opportunities according to the rate of change taking place in the industry. In addition to 15- or 30-second pre-rolls, there are launching off points for advertisers on the site. NBC is working closely with its media agencies on the creative element, potentially incorporating things such as sequential marketing. NBC.com also has incorporated social networking on the site.Richards' Share of $350 Mil. Comcast Goes Into PlayLOS ANGELES Philadelphia-based cable giant Comcast put the business services portion of its $350 million creative account into review last week, the client confirmed. Independent Richards Group, Dallas, had been handling the communication to companies of less than 20 employees, with Omnicom's Goodby, Silverstein + Partners, San Francisco, handling the consumer communications portion of the business and the "Comcastic" campaign. Boston-based Pile & Co. is conducting the search. Richards Group executives were unavailable for comment.Honda Targets Generation X In Accord Launch CampaignLOS ANGELES American Honda Motors started the largest launch campaign in its history for the Accord last week, according to Tom Peyton, senior manager, national advertising, Honda, Torrance, Calif. Peyton said campaign spending would surpass the $130 million Civic relaunch of 2004-05. He said AHM's ambition is for the Accord to retake the lead in the midsize category from Toyota's Camry and for sales to top 400,000 units. The campaign, through independent RPA, Santa Monica, Calif., is consciously designed to woo Gen X, Peyton said.Hyatt Corp. Awards $40 Mil. Global Account to Euro RSCGCHICAGO Havas' Euro RSCG won Global Hyatt Corp.'s $40 million ad account after a review. Hyatt's domestic incumbent, independent Cramer-Krasselt here, will continue to handle creative duties on two domestic brands, Hyatt Place and Hyatt Summerfield Suites. Select Resources International, Santa Monica, Calif., conducted the search. Contenders were not disclosed, though WPP's JWT in New York dropped out of the review as other undisclosed shops were added to the pitch. Sources: Nat. City's $40 Mil. Account to Campbell MithunCHICAGO National City is expected to award its $40 million creative and media accounts to IPG's Campbell Mithun, sources said. The Minneapolis shop won the review over independent Blattner Brunner in Pittsburgh. The incumbent, IPG's Campbell-Ewald in Warren, Mich., did not make the finals. Officials with the agencies either declined to comment or could not be reached. A company representative declined to confirm the decision. Select Resources International in Santa Monica, Calif., ran the search.McKinney Namesake Founder, Chick McKinney, 75, DiesCHICAGO Charles "Chick" McKinney, who co-founded Havas agency McKinney, died last week from undisclosed causes. He was 75. McKinney, who went by the name "Chick," formed the agency in Raleigh, N.C., in 1968 with partner Mike Silver, under the name McKinney & Silver. He had been retired from the agency since 1990.Summit Picks MindShare For $75 Mil. AssignmentNEW YORK Summit Entertainment, a new global theatrical motion picture studio, has selected WPP's MindShare to handle media duties for its U.S. theatrical and home entertainment divisions following a review, the client has confirmed. The firm, formed this spring, has an annual estimated ad budget of $75 million. Other contenders were independents Horizon Media and Palisades Media. Initiative Installs Flaxman To Develop New BusinessNEW YORK IPG's Initiative North America has hired Erin Flaxman as svp, director of business development, a new position based in New York. Previously, Jennifer Razor led new business efforts at the shop; she left the agency earlier this year. In addition to pitching prospective new clients, Flaxman will be responsible for generating organic growth at the shop. Most recently, Flaxman, 37, ran the Kmart business for WPP's MindShare.Hanrahan Departs OMD To Establish ConsultancyNEW YORK Thirty-two-year media agency veteran Jack Hanrahan is leaving Omnicom's OMD, where he has been director of U.S. print strategy for the last four years. Hanrahan is leaving, effective immediately, to start a media consulting practice. Charter clients include Parade and OMD. OMD said a search is under way for his replacement. Hanrahan spent 22 years at Publicis' Leo Burnett in various media posts before joining Coca-Cola in 1997 as global media director.

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