BERNHART ASSOCIATES EXECUTIVE SEARCH:
has reported that nearly two-thirds of direct marketers are planning new hires this quarter, a sharp improvement over last year. The new jobs index is up 13% over the last quarter representing the largest quarter-to-quarter increase since the survey began three years ago, the company said. The survey also found that one of out of five direct marketing companies continue a hiring freeze, although the percentage of companies with freezes continues to decline.
JOHN DEERE: Raleigh, NC, has assigned a promotion project to Draft, Chicago, for its commercial and consumer equipment division.
EVENT MARKETING STRATEGIES: Columbus, OH, has promoted Brenda Pritchett to director-event research and activation. She had been the event marketing agency's director of marketing. EMS owns FairAmerica and Festival USA, two programs that link local fairs and festival into a national network.
INFORMATION RESOURCES, INC.: Chicago, awaits a new trial date for its antitrust suit against ACNielsen, Schaumburg, IL. The case was set to go to trial Sept. 20, 2004, however a U.S. District Court judge postponed, at ACNielsen's request, to allow more time for discovery. IRI will request a new date no later than Jan. 18, 2005. The suit claims that ACNielsen shut IRI out of European and Canadian markets, affecting its performance there and in the U.S.
