SBC Direct Unit Named Javelin

The shop created by Omnicom to handle SBC Communications’ $100 million direct marketing account has been named Javelin Direct, executives at Rapp Collins confirmed. Javelin, which will open in Irving, Texas, on Jan. 1, was set up after SBC, handled by Rapp, formed a joint venture with EchoStar, a competitor of another Rapp client, DirecTV [Adweek, Oct. 13]. Greg Banks from Irving-based Rapp will serve as Javelin’s managing director. Sources said about 80 employees will join the shop, which will operate separately from Rapp and initially handle only SBC work.