EURO RSCG WORLDWIDE: New York City, tapped ad agency veteran Ron Bess as regional director-North America, a new post. Bess will be based in Chicago and oversee Euro RSCG’s operations in Chicago (which drops “Tatham” from its name to become Euro RSCG Chicago) and Canada, as well as marketing services offices in five U.S. cities. Bess had been CEO of Y&R Advertising, New York City. Ron Berger remains as CEO of Euro RSCG’s New York City and San Francisco offices.

LAND O’ LAKES: has partnered with MTA transportation systems to drive traffic to NYC-area delis selling its cheese. The campaign, dubbed Land O’ Lakes-That’s The Ticket, will award monthly MTA passes; consumers enter via forms posted at participating delis and grocery stores, May 15 through Sept. 15.

WARNER BROS.: Interactive Entertainment division formed a technology, marketing and promotional relationship with ATI Technologies, a graphics card supplier, in support of The Matrix Online, through the game’s launch in November 2004. Marketing for the multiplayer online game will include a substantial presence at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), a large print and online ad campaign, engineering support and several other promotional opportunities.

SANFORD: Bellwood, IL, named 141 Worldwide, Chicago, agency of record for marketing services for Paper Mate writing instruments. First work is a back-to-school radio-event campaign in 11 markets. 141 collaborates with sister ad agency Ogilvy & Mather, Chicago, on a 2005 campaign targeting teens and tweens. Sanford named Ogilvy its advertising AOR in March, with first work breaking later this year. Sanford is a division of Newell Rubbermaid.

CENDANT HOTEL GROUP: has appointed Kevin Rupert as VP-strategy and development. Rupert continues to oversee strategic planning for the Hotel Group as well as the development of marketing strategies and brand positioning for the company’s nine brands. Rupert joined the Hotel Group as senior director-brand strategy in 2002.

LOWE FOREVER/DRAFT: Stockholm, changes its name to Draft as it aligns with sister ad agency Lowe Brindfors, strategy consultancy Lowe Plus and digital ad agency Lowe Tesch. The shops will share office space but not merge.

THE COLORADO COURT OF APPEALS: rejected a request from Jeremy Bloom for an injunction against the NCAA that will allow him to play football for the University of Colorado while collecting prize and endorsement money from his pro skiing career. The university, on Bloom’s behalf, requested waivers of NCAA rules restricting student-athlete endorsement and media activities. Before enrolling at Colorado, Bloom had agreed to endorse ski equipment and he contracted to model clothing for Tommy Hilfiger.

PRO SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT INC.: and Sports Illustrated have entered into a one-year exclusive sponsorship agreement that brands Got Milk as the “Official Milk” of The Core Tour and Concert Series, the nationwide action sports and music festival tour and a division of Pro Sports & Entertainment. As the official milk sponsor of The Core Tour, Got Milk will be the title sponsor of the amateur bicycle dirt jumping competition that is branded as the “Got Milk Amateur King of Dirt Series.” The Core Tour series is comprised of pro and amateur competitions in bicycle dirt jumping, skateboarding, in-line skating, mountain boarding and live concerts that are conducted at Venice Beach, CA (June 11-13), South Street Seaport, NY (July 16-18) and Huntington Beach, CA (Sept. 10-12).

VH1: Nigel Cox-Hagan has been promoted to senior VP-creative group and consumer marketing, reporting to VH1 President Christina Norman. Cox-Hagan is responsible for off-channel branding efforts. He oversees all consumer outreach, which includes the channel’s music marketing and VH1.com marketing teams as well as all consumer and trade advertising. He will continue to be responsible for VH1’s on-air image and the look of all VH1’s digital channels. Most recently, Cox-Hagan served as senior VP-creative director for VH1.

TY, INC.: has entered into a new agreement with Jim Davis, creator of the Garfield comic strip and president of Paws, Inc. licensing studio. Ty will create Garfield and his movie friends as a series of plush Beanie Babies modeled after the characters that star in the upcoming Garfield:The Movie. This Beanie Baby series will be sold in gift and specialty stores in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand beginning in June.

WARNER BROS. CONSUMER PRODUCTS: will launch the first Looney Tunes MasterCard with the Bank of China’s BOC Credit Card in Hong Kong. The new card, titled “y not Looney Tunes MasterCard,” comes in two Looney Tunes designs and is accompanied by a mini card that can be added to a key chain. Until Aug. 31, each applicant will be eligible for a three-year annual waiver and will also receive a free gift.