newswire

A NYUOnline Reaches Out to N.Y. Agencies
NEW YORK–Representatives of New York University’s online degree program are talking to agencies about NYUOnline’s estimated $10 million account. Lauren Beiley, NYUOnline’s vice president of marketing and communications, said she has met with at least six New York agencies, but declined further comment. NYUOnline, a virtual university where students can study business and information technology, is a for-profit subsidiary of NYU.
A 6 Pitch Boating & Fishing Foundation
BOSTON–Six agencies have been selected to compete for the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s ad assignment. In the running for the Alexandria, Va.-based account, worth $36 million over five years, are Austin Kelley Advertising, Atlanta; Carmichael Lynch and Martin/Williams, both in Minneapolis; The Richards Group, Dallas; Loeffler Ketchum Mountjoy, Charlotte, N.C.; and Long Haymes Carr, Winston-Salem, N.C.
A Ellis Joins Omnicom’s DAS Group
New York–Susan Ellis, former executive vice president, director of integrated marketing at BBDO, here, has joined parent Omnicom Group’s Diversified Agency Services as director of integrated marketing, a new post. Ellis, 47, will also hold the title of executive vice president.
A Labiner Joins CarsDirect; Will Be Involved in Review
LOS ANGELES–Charles Labiner, former media director at Ground Zero, joined CarsDirect.com as director of offline advertising and will participate in the dot.com’s ongoing agency review, sources said. Labiner declined to comment. No replacement has been named at the Marina del Rey, Calif., agency.
A Long John Silver’s Taps Fallon for $40 Mil. Account
CHICAGO–Long John Silver’s named Fallon McElligott creative agency for its $40 million ad account. The Lexington, Ky., company tapped the Minneapolis agency following a review that included Campbell Mithun Esty in Minneapolis and Rubin Postaer and Associates, Chicago and Santa Monica, Calif. Media duties are split between Empower Media in Cincinnati and Active Media in Atlanta.
A Topolewski to McCann, Morden Promoted at FCB
DETROIT–Gary Topolewski, creative chief at FCB Worldwide, is leaving the agency to take over as executive vice president/chief creative officer at McCann-Erickson/A&L, San Francisco. Bill Morden, a group vice president and creative director at FCB, will succeed Topolewski as executive vice president/chief creative officer. Topolewski has been with the Southfield, Mich., agency for 11 years and was credited with heading its award-winning work for Jeep. Morden joined the agency in 1994 after working on Chevrolet at Campbell-Ewald Advertising.
A Not All Fun and Games With Midway
DALLAS–Midway Home Entertainment has pulled its $25 million account from DDB Dallas in tandem with the move of its marketing department to the West Coast. Sources last week said the account is expected to be awarded to Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco. Chicago-based Midway makes videogames for home players such as Nintendo and Sega.
A Richardson, Myers Wins $30 Mil. Account
ATLANTA–Richardson, Myers & Donofrio has been named creative agency for Re/Max International’s $30 million account, previously handled in-house. The Baltimore agency topped DDB, Chicago; WongDoody, Seattle; Revolution, Kansas City, Mo.; and Publicis & Hal Riney, Chicago. The win, combined with RM&D’s $15 million bump from National Association of Realtors’ media buys last month, pushes the agency to more than $100 million in annual billings.
A Newswire Roundup
The team of Leo Burnett and Moroch & Associates prevailed over a joint pitch by Kragie/Newell and DDB Chicago to win McDonald’s $12-15 million co-op business in Michigan. Chicago-based Burnett bought a minority stake in Dallas-based Moroch last December. Arnold Communications in Boston is the incumbent. Caterpillar Footwear and Apparel is talking to four shops about an estimated $12 million account. Caterpillar Footwear split in December with Crispin Porter & Bogusky in Miami. The Rockford, Mich.-based company’s parent is Wolverine Worldwide. The apparel licensee for Caterpillar, based in England, which spends about $7-10 million, is part of the review.
Krystal Restaurants has started contacting agencies for its $12-15 million account, said sources. Atlanta incumbent Ogilvy & Mather did not return calls, and the Chattanooga, Tenn., fast-food client’s vice president of marketing and development, Gordon Davenport, said Krystal would not comment. Virgin Drinks USA chose Long Haymes Carr to replace Ground Zero on its national creative account. LHC in Winston-Salem, N.C., bested a trio of New York shops: Avrett Free Ginsberg, Mad Dogs & Englishmen and CMG Communications. Also, the Wilton, Conn., client has parted with KSL Media, Los Angeles, but made no decision on whether buying chores will be reviewed or reassigned. The Incredible Hulk and the characters from Psycho are featured in new TV spots for search engine Alta Vista. The ads, via Wieden + Kennedy, Portland, Ore., use footage from TV and movie scenes. DDB has picked up the estimated $10 million ad account of PropertyFirst, a new online commercial real-estate marketplace. Crispin & Porter has been named lead agency for AtomFilms, an entertainment company specializing in short films and digital media. The Miami agency will promote the Seattle company’s Web site (http://www.AtomFilms.com). Billings are estimated at $20 million. Cable TV channel ZDTV awarded its $15 million strategic media planning and buying business to Carat Freeman, Newton, Mass., without a review