VTEL Shortens Review, Selects DDB Needham

VTEL, a videoconferencing company in Austin, Texas, surprised a dozen shops around the country when it opted to assign its estimated $5-8 million ad account to DDB Needham in New York.
Client executives, including marketing vice president Barry Rumac, spent the better part of two weeks visiting 12 agencies from Massachusetts to California. The final agency visit on Sept. 19 was paid to GSD&M, also in Austin. Following the conclusion of that meeting, the decision was made to forego the rest of the review process and award the account to DDB Needham.
VTEL hired Boston-based marketing consultant Grant Schneider to help conduct a review.