Newswire

Memorial Set for David Ogilvy
NEW YORK–A memorial for David Ogilvy will be held on Sept. 15. Jock Elliott, former chairman and chief executive of Ogilvy & Mather, and Shelly Lazarus, the agency’s current leader, will speak. A reception will follow. The ceremony, which is open to the public, will take place at 3 p.m. at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center, West 65th St. and Broadway, in New York.
Former Propaganda Head Joins Partizan
NEW YORK–Stephen Dickstein, the former head of commercials at Propaganda Commercials who was dismissed following a contract dispute in July, has formed Partizan Entertainment, a joint venture with Partizan Films based in London and Paris. Partizan Films operated in the U.S. through a partnership with Propaganda. “The partnership is ending,” said George Bermann, chairman of Partizan, who described the parting as amicable.
Grey to Land NewsPage.com Account
BOSTON–Grey Advertising in New York is hashing out an agreement with NewsPage.com to handle a $10-15 million multimedia campaign, sources said. NewsPage.com, a subsidiary of NewsEdge in Burlington, Mass., chose Grey over finalists TFA/Leo Burnett Technology Group, Boston, and Chadwick Communications, New York. Pro Media, Natick, Mass., and Target Marketing, Boston, pitched the media and promotions pieces of the account; it is unclear whether they are still being considered. NewsPage confirmed that it is in discussions with one of the finalists, but would not identify the shop. Grey declined to comment.
S. Calif. Mercedes Dealers Pick MNH
LOS ANGELES–The Mercedes-Benz Retailers of Southern California group has selected Merkley Newman Harty to handle its estimated $10 million account. The other finalist was Ground Zero, Marina del Rey, Calif. MNH, which handles Mercedes’ factory account, will service the account from New York with its sister Omnicom Group shop The Designory in Long Beach, Calif. The previous agency was the defunct Yellow Card, New York.
Burnett Resigns Fila
CHICAGO–Leo Burnett has resigned the Fila USA account, citing “philosophical differences,” an agency representative said. Fila Holding SpA placed its $25 million overseas business in review earlier this month after management changes at its Biella, Italy, headquarters [Adweek, Aug. 23]. Burnett had been invited to pitch. The agency won the $20 million account last July, but Fila spent just $5 million on advertising in 1998, per Competitive Media Reporting.
NBC Beats 3 Agencies for Ad Emmy
LOS ANGELES–NBC’s in-house promotions unit bested three agencies to win this year’s advertising Emmy. The winning spot, “New Friend,” for Snap.com (which NBC partly owns), features a hearing boy who uses Snap to learn sign language so he can communicate with a deaf classmate. The NBC worked with production company Gartner, Santa Monica, Calif. The team prevailed over Fallon McElligott (Miller Lite), Cliff Freeman and Partners (Fox Sports.com) and Arnold Communications (Volkswagen).
TN Completes Don Coleman Deal
DETROIT–True North Communications acquired a 49 percent interest in African American agency Don Coleman Advertising, Southfield, Mich. The addition of the agency to TN’s New America Strategies Group increases that unit’s total billings to $200 million, the company said. Agency founder Don Coleman was appointed CEO of NASG, and will remain president and CEO at his shop.
Lyon Named President at Temerlin McClain
DALLAS–David Lyon has been named president of Temerlin McClain. Lyon, 39, was group account director responsible for Subaru, and others. The appointment signals the Irving, Texas, agency’s intent to eventually make Lyon its primary leader. Dennis McClain, 47, remains CEO; Liener Temerlin, 71, remains chairman.
News Roundup
Jack Rooney, former vp of marketing at Miller Brewing, has assumed the same title with Guild.com, a Madison, Wis.-based company selling art, high-end crafts and art books. Guild plans a $6 million campaign this fall, which Rooney will direct Steven Berns joined The Interpublic Group of Cos. in New York as vice president and treasurer. He previously held that title at Revlon William Apfelbaum has been promoted to chairman and CEO of TDI Worldwide in New York. Apfelbaum had been TDI’s president and CEO. Don Allman, TDI’s chief operating officer, will assume the title of president American Media tapped Tradewell, New York, to handle its $50 million media task. Creative is at AG in New York Young & Rubicam in Chicago promoted Kary McIlwain to evp, managing director, and James Lecinski to svp, director of client services and new business development. Also last week, 10 employees were laid off as a result of Kraft Foods’ decision in July to shift the $12-14 million in business it had at Y&R to Foote, Cone & Belding, Chicago Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco, has been awarded the estimated $30 million ad account for online pharmacy PlanetRx, following a review of undisclosed shops, said sources Deutsch/LA won ad duties for a genealogy Web site called MyFamily.com. The Marina del Rey, Calif., shop won after a review of undisclosed shops. Billings for the Orem, Utah, client are estimated at $10 million Software manufacturer SAS Institute tapped Howard, Merrell & Partners, Raleigh, N.C., for an account previously handled in-house. Billings were pegged at $20 million. Media planning and buying will remain in-house, with HM&P consulting J. Walter Thompson was named agency for ThePavement.com, part of Tribune Co.’s interactive arm that launches in September, as expected [Adweek, Aug. 30]. JWT won the $5-10 million account after a review including Leo Burnett, Tom Reilly Advertising and Quantum Leap, all Chicago; Organic Online in San Francisco; and Stein Rogan + Partners in New York.