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D'Arcy Wins Pfizer's Relpax Account NEW YORK--D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles has won creative, direct-to-consumer duties for Pfizer's estimated $40 million Relpax account, the client confirmed. Relpax is a prescription anti-migraine medication, introduced in October but awaiting clearance from the Food and Drug Administration before it is made available to consumers. D'Arcy bested fellow New York shops Ogilvy & Mather, Bates Worldwide and FCB Worldwide. Cordiant Acquires Hyundai Agency NEW YORK--Cordiant Communications Group will acquire an 80 percent interest in Diamond Ad Ltd., a Hyundai agency that handles advertising in Korea for the company's automobile, electronics, securities, engineering and construction businesses. Expected to spend about $24 million on the purchase, Cordiant will assume some of Diamond Ad's debt. Since Cordiant's Bates Worldwide is the principal Hyundai agency, the acquisition will create a consolidated global Hyundai account. Team Takes Creative Reins of Lord Group NEW YORK--The team of Tony Kobylinski and Jim Ritterhoff has taken the creative reins of The Lord Group here. They succeed Mike Scardino, 51, chief creative officer since November 1998, who has stepped down to tend to pressing family needs, sources said. The agency said Scardino would continue to work as a consultant. Kobylinski, 38, an art director, and Ritterhoff, 36, a copywriter, are best known for their work on the "Wild Things" campaign for Bell Atlantic. Previously creative directors at the agency, each now carries the title of executive creative director. Winstar Mulls Five Contenders BOSTON--Winstar Communications is mulling five semifinalists for its $15 million ad account. In the hunt: Holland Mark Edmund Ingalls, Boston; Gray Kirk Vansant, Baltimore; and New York shops Angotti, Thomas, Hedge; Emmerling Post; and Margeotes/Fertitta + Partners. Incumbent Trone Advertising, High Point, N.C., declined to defend. Tierney & Partners, Philadelphia, declined to participate due to a client conflict with Bell Atlantic. Serta Leans Toward Doner CHICAGO--Serta Corp. is expected to award its $20 million account to Doner in Southfield, Mich., sources said, following a search that included Grey Advertising in New York and Chicago shops DDB and Cramer-Krasselt. The Lisle, Ill., mattress maker split with Publicis & Hal Riney in June. JWT Absorbs $60 Mil. Shell Business DALLAS--As expected last week, JWT absorbed the estimated $60 million U.S. account for Shell Oil brands that Ogilvy & Mather, Houston, resigned in November. Mike McDonald, a 17-year veteran of J. Walter Thompson's Detroit office, has been selected to head the expanded office of JWT in Houston. JWT plans to hire former O&M staffers to increase the size of its six-person Houston field office, which currently provides regional advertising services for Ford. Sharpton to Hold Summit on Multicultural Media NEW YORK--The Rev. Al Sharpton will host the second annual Invitational Summit on Multicultural Markets and Media on Jan. 19 at New York's Millennium Hotel. Young & Rubicam Inc. chief creative officer Ed Vick and Procter & Gamble global marketing officer Bob Wehling will give presentations; the panel on media will include Alec Gerster, chairman, Grey MediaCom Worldwide; Page Thompson, worldwide media director, DDB Worldwide; and Renetta McCain, managing director, Starcom North America. Newswire Roundup OfficeMax assigned its $15 million dot.com ad account to Doner, bypassing lead agency Campbell-Ewald The Martin Agency, Richmond, Va., won $15-20 million in ad duties for sports and financial games site Sandbox.com, topping Grey Advertising, New York Doremus, New York, was named the first agency for San Francisco systems integrator Fort Point Partners after a review Emmerling Post, New York, won $2 million in ad duties for New York Stock Exchange specialist firm Wagner Stott Mercator Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst, Dallas, is considering New York shops Dweck!, Jordan McGrath Case & Partners/Euro RSCG and Avrett, Free & Ginsberg to handle $5 million in ad duties for its Mumm and Perrier-Jouet champagne brands Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Toronto, has contacted 13-15 agencies about its $5-6 million creative-only account, previously handled by Ammirati Puris Lintas. The incumbent, now part of Lowe Lintas & Partners, will not defend. A decision is expected by early March. Media duties will remain at Starcom in Toronto Aurora Foods, Columbus, Ohio, is seeking an agency for its Lender's Bagels brand, which it acquired from Kellogg in November. Spending was $11 million in 1998. Aurora roster shops Ogilvy & Mather, Chicago, and Momentum, St. Louis (formerly Louis London), and four others have been contacted Ogilvy & Mather won the Illinois Lottery's $18 million account, sources said, topping Chicago shops J. Walter Thompson and DDB. Incumbent Foote, Cone & Belding, Chicago, did not defend Empower MediaMarketing, Cincinnati, won Einstein/Noah Bagel Corp.'s $10 million media-buying account, which had been split among several shops. Creative is handled by Roche Macaulay & Partners, Toronto Mellon Financial Corp. has moved its $12 million account from 10-year incumbent Bozell Kamstra to Marc Advertising without a review. All three are in Pittsburgh EthnicGrocer.com, Evanston, Ill., is seeking a shop for its $10-15 million account Holland Mark Edmund Ingalls won Beansprout Networks' $12 million account, besting fellow Boston shops CGN Marketing & Creative Services, Heater Advertising and Partners & Simons.

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