PROMO 100 Updates
In the spirit of USA Today, here’s a quick overview of what’s been happening at agencies among the elite ranks of the PROMO 100.
1. The New York office of DraftWorldwide, Chicago, was named agency of record by debt-management company Amerix Corp., Columbia, MD. Duties include media planning and buying along with other marketing activities.
2. GMR Marketing, New Berlin, WI, created a new division to handle, organize, and implement healthcare-related events. The operation will be able to provide more than 40 different tests including procedures for blood sugar, cholesterol, and diabetes as part of events for pharmaceutical and healthcare clients.
7. Paramus, NJ-based Einson Freeman, launched Einson Youthquake, a division to handle teen-targeting campaigns. Jean Mojo was named managing partner of the unit, which will work in conjunction with fellow WPP Group company Geppeto Group, New York City.
13. Promotions.com, New York City, undertook more layoffs in early September, paring its once 200-strong operation to about 25 staffers. The move came shortly after both Chris Bragas and Steve Caputo, who had been running the agency side of the business, left the company (the latter to a position with No. 25 Marden-Kane, Manhasset, NY).
One month after the layoffs, rival online promotion shop RealTime Media, Wynnewood, PA, announced that it had hired three Promotions.com staffers to open a New York City office: vp-promotions and client services Craig Moser, director of international business development Amie Smith, and senior account manager Rebecca Resnick. The three, who were not among the layoffs, will have similar responsibilities at RealTime.
14. The Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, assigned a $125 million national youth media campaign to Frankel, Chicago, and two sister shops in the Publicis Groupe family, Saatchi & Saatchi and Publicis Dialog, both New York City. Duties include advertising, promotion, p.r., events, and grassroots activities. As lead agency, Frankel will oversee a national event tour, online efforts, partnership development, and local initiatives.
Elsewhere, Frankel changed the name of its FAC games and sweepstakes division to asterisk* as part of a stronger push into full-service games administration.
15. Upshot parent company Ha-Lo Industries, Nile, IL, cut 230 positions company-wide as it consolidated management and support functions with those of its Lee Wayne subsidiary in Sterling, IL, and eliminated what was left of its executive staff. With the action, Ha-Lo vacated the costly new headquarters it moved into just last spring.
It was the latest step in the company’s attempts to reorganize after filing Chapter 11 for its core promotional products business in June. “This gets us to profitability,” says ceo Marc Simon, adding that the new executive ranks will “build off the existing management team in Sterling.”
The changes did not affect Upshot, which wasn’t included in the bankruptcy filing, says Simon.
26. Alcone Marketing Group, Irvine, CA, undertook a summer reorganization that structured the company into three operational divisions for promotional marketing, merchandise, and marketing services.
19. Integer Group, Denver, promoted cfo Jeremy Pagden to the agency’s top post after ceo Ron Askew left to become chief marketing officer of flagship client Coors Brewing Co., Golden, CO. Pagden has been with Integer since 1994, one year after the agency was spun out from Coors.
30. The aftershocks of the McDonald’s scandal continued to hit Simon Worldwide, Los Angeles, which was named (along with McDonald’s) in at least nine civil suits alleging that the embezzlement of high-value gamepieces (October PROMO) by an agency employee constituted consumer fraud and false advertising. Simon has promised to “vigorously” oppose the suits.
Loss of the McDonald’s account and subsequent business led the company to eliminate 94 positions in September, reducing its headcount in the U.S. to 142. (The company’s overseas administrative and manufacturing operations employ about 160 people.) “Moving forward, we are reviewing all of our options and will continue to make decisions that are in the company’s best interest,” ceo Allan Brown said in a statement.
43. PriceWeber Marketing Communications, Louisville, KY, was named agency of record for truck-parts supplier Hendrickson International, Woodbridge, IL. Duties will include strategic planning, p.r., media planning and placement, promotion, and research.
44. Eric Mower & Associates, Syracuse, NY, merged its operation with business-to-business shop Sage Marcom, Inc., also Syracuse. The deal creates an agency with six U.S. offices and more than $150 million in capitalized billings. Sage has a client list that includes Carrier Corp., GE Plastics, and Siemens Energy and Automation.
57. BDS Marketing, Irvine, formed a strategic alliance with promotion technology company Parago, Inc., Dallas, to cross-sell services. The pact gives BDS “an immediate, powerful, and cost-effective online capability,” says ceo Beverly Ham. The shops have collaborated on rebate programs in the past.
59. The GEM Group, Atlanta, was named sales and marketing agency for the United Soccer Leagues, Miami, an umbrella organization for six youth and adult leagues in the U.S. GEM was acquired by U.K.-based sports and entertainment management shop CSS Stellar this summer (August PROMO).
