Minneapolis agency Fallon McElligott once again has swiped a prestigious Chicagoland client from under the noses of the ad community here.
Fallon McElligott’s latest win: Ameritech Corp.’s corporate advertising account.
Ameritech’s decision to opt for an outsider surprised observers, who pretty much theorized the competition had been narrowed to Tatham Euro RSCG and DDB Needham Chicago, both of which had been working for the client.
But apparently it was no contest among Fallon McElligott and the Chicago agencies. Cramer-Krasselt Milwaukee, another Ameritech agency of record, was the other finalist.
“We liked (Fallon McElligott’s) strategic thinking, and the execution of it is what we most need,” said Ray Lewis, Ameritech director of advertising and agency relations.
Ameritech joins such Chicago-area firms as Continental Bank, a Fallon McElligott client since 1985, and Jim Beam Brands in Deerfield, a Fallon McElligott account the last five years. At one time or another, Fallon McElligott has been an agency for Amoco Oil Co. and WFLD-TV, relationships that no longer exist.
Presumably, Ameritech will up the ante on its corporate advertising, which recently has been at the $5 million level or less. There has been speculation in the trade that the budget might increase to as much as $15 million or $20 million annually.
“The competitive environment (in the telecommunications field, involved with huge mergers) has been turned up a few notches,” said Lewis, suggesting that a bigger budget would be necessary.
Indications are that new creative on Ameritech corporate advertising will surface in the first quarter of 1994.
Only last week Fallon McElligott bought back the 64 percent indirect interest in it held by WPP Group, once again making the agency an independent. Recently, Fallon McElligott has picked up projects from Coca-Cola USA, another impressive addition to its client roster. The agency is billing at an annual rate of $175 million.
Bayer Bess Vanderwarker, which had been doing Ameritech’s corporate advertising, continues as agency of record for all Ameritech electronic media buying to the consumer market. DDB Needham continues to work on Ameritech’s cellular account; Tatham still has consumer advertising responsibility throughout Ameritech’s five-state region. All other Ameritech relationships aren’t affected.
General Mills boosts Sanger
General Mills Inc.’s Stephen Sanger becomes the heir apparent to the top post at the Minneapolis-based cereal giant with his elevation to president, announced Monday. Sanger, 47, who had been a vice chairman, continues to report to H. Bruce Atwater Jr., 62, chairman-chief executive. Sanger, a 19-year veteran of General Mills, previously had responsibility for the company’s cereals, Red Lobster and Olive Garden restaurants, Yoplait yogurt and the consumer foods sales division. The post of president has recently been vacant. The mandatory retirement age is 65 for executives. Separately, Charles Gaillard, 52, returns to General Mills headquarters as an executive VP with responsibility for cereals, Yoplait and the consumer foods sales division. Gaillard had been based in Switzerland heading Cereal Partners Worldwide, a joint cereal-marketing venture with Nestle S.A. General Mills’ worldwide sales exceed $8 billion.
On the move: Jamie B. Haberkorn, an account supervisor at Leo Burnett Co., elected a VP…. Jean Hoover joined publishers’ representatives firm Globe Media here as Midwest ad manager on Worth magazine. . . . Karen Macrane appointed an account executive at WKQX.
Strictly Personal: Birthday greetings to Bonnie Heller, Bill Engelbrecht, Jack Mabley, Michael C. Kraus, James J. Costanzo and Patricia Penman.
Leo Burnett Co. and client Philip Morris USA Monday night were inducted into the New York Art Directors Hall of Fame for a 40-year relationship of what was termed “outstanding advertising.”
The Lavins of Alberto-Culver Co. were winners all the way around over the weekend. Bernice Lavin, VP and secretary-treasurer, was one of three honorees at the Little City Foundation’s award dinner Friday at the Hotel Inter-Continental. Leonard Lavin, chairman-CEO of the Melrose Park-based firm, naturally was one of the attendees. The next morning he jetted to New York and watched his 5-year-old One Dreamer horse win at generous 7-1 odds in a stakes race at Aqueduct in New York. One Dreamer has run 15 times, only once out of the money. Leonard Lavin only a few weeks ago was one of six new inductees into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame here, increasing to 70 the number of inductees. More corporate involvement by Alberto is on the agenda. At a Nov. 10 Four Seasons Hotel dinner, the company will honor Bernice and celebrate the first recipients of the Bernice E. Lavin Jumpstart Fund awards. These are grants or seed money that Alberto will be offering organizations for new programs in the areas of education, health care and women’s workplace issues. As many as a dozen awards will be given at the dinner.
Burger King is expanding testing of Worthington Foods Inc.’s meatless, cholesterol-free hamburgers to 34 restaurants from four in an upstate New York test. (There are 6,000 BK units nationally.) These burgers, which contain 7 grams of fat (about half the amount in regular burgers), are called Griller’s, and they are sold in supermarkets nationally under Worthington’s Morningstar Farms label.
