Client executives have briefed the contenders and final presentations are scheduled for next month. The winner will succeed independent Traffic in El Segundo, Calif., which is not defending.

Select Resources International in Santa Monica is managing the creative search.

Aflac has hired a search consultant, Select Resources International, to oversee the review, Mr. Charney said. It could be completed by early March. Aflac spends about $75 million each year on advertising.

RadioShack said it has hired consultancy Select Resources International in Santa Monica, Calif., to oversee the competition, which it described as part of its "regular procurement process."

"Like all companies, Aflac is looking to leverage our marketing investment in the most effective, efficient and creative manner to ensure relevance across all channels to fully support our sales efforts. We are currently conducting a review of our agencies and have asked Select Resources International to assemble the best integrated teams with plans to promote our products and services. We are grateful to The Kaplan Thaler Group for having created an unparalled marketing icon and we wish them all the best. We are the number one brand in the insurance industry and look to build on that equity and take our icon to new heights with our new agency partner."

The carmaker entrusted the account there largely due to the creative leadership of Tom Cordner, who's known in auto circles for the successful launch of Lexus automobiles while he was at Team One.

 

Representatives for Traffic and Mitsubishi did not return calls for comment by press time. The ad agency review is being managed by Select Resources International of Santa Monica, Calif., which also handled the review in 2008.

WPP agency Y&R and digital shop VML lost the business after a review that also included independent Richards Group and Boston-based MMB. Select Resources International handled the three-month review.

Along with the guidance of Catherine Bension at Select Resources International, I also set up an all-day procurement training seminar so they got an "advertising industry 101" so they got at least a basic bootcamp understanding of compensation models, industry standards around structure and how to look at output of work vs. outlay of spend.

John Butler, executive creative director and founding partner of Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners, said the TV ads, in conjunction with all the various elements of the campaign, are meant to offer bits of information that in total tell RadioShack's story.

IPG's McCann Erickson in Los Angeles handled the business for about five years. It did not defend in the competition, which was led by Select Resources International in Santa Monica, Calif.

Sausalito, Calif.-based Butler, Shine succeeds Havas' Arnold in Boston, which did not reach the final round. Select Resources International in Santa Monica, Calif., managed the process.

The media contest follows the client's completion late last year of a creative review. The Richards Group, an independent in Dallas, successfully defended. Select Resources in Santa Monica, Calif., which managed that earlier competition, oversaw the media review.

The marketer intends to select a new agency of record by June, and has retained Santa Monica, Calif., search consultancy Select Resources International to assist with the review, a Zicam spokeswoman said.

Consultancy Select Resources International in Santa Monica, Calif., led the search.

The selection came after a review in which the other finalists were WPP Group's Ogilvy & Mather in Chicago, Omnicom's Element 79 in Chicago and the incumbent, RPA, according to a source. Select Resources International in Santa Monica, Calif., managed the process.

The selection came after a review in which the other finalists were WPP Group's Ogilvy & Mather in Chicago, Omnicom's Element 79 in Chicago and the incumbent, RPA, according to a source. Select Resources International in Santa Monica, Calif., managed the process.

Select Resources International managed the review process for the client, which also considered finalists Kirshenbaum Bond + Partners in New York (an MDC Partners shop and the incumbent since 2004) and TM Advertising in Dallas, a unit of Interpublic Group. Per sources, Omnicom Group's GSD&M Idea City, Austin, Texas, and IPG's Carmichael Lynch, Minneapolis, advanced from earlier rounds, then withdrew.

A handful of agency search consultants have answered a request for proposals on Home Depot's media account and the company could select one as early as this week, said sources. The consultancy managing the creative process -- Select Resources International in Santa Monica, Calif. -- is said to be among those vying for the media job.

The retailer hasn't divulged budget figures as of yet but the scope of the account is said to be "significant." Select Resources International is handling the review.

Select Resources International is assisting with the review.

The company has hired the Santa Monica, California agency review consulting firm, Select Resources International (SRI), to help them conduct the review.

Dan Orsborn, a senior partner and PR practice leader for SelectResources International...said the fourth quarter tends to be busy with a rush to decide on new business because clients like to “hit the ground running” in January. However, Orsborn added, this year appeared to moving at a slower pace.

Farmers Insurance chose The Richards Group out of a field of dozens of agencies because of its dynamic energy and unique vision for leading Farmers Insurance into a new direction, said Kelso. Assisting Farmers Insurance to manage the agency search process was Catherine Bension , CEO of Select Resources International.

If you want to not only win the client, but also develop a long-term relationship, put client service and cross-office teamwork first.

The client needs to know that there are senior-level people on the leadership team who can provide the level of sophistication and depth of specialized knowledge required.

Dan Orsborn, senior partner of the PR practice at search and resource management firm Select Resources International, points out the “double-edged sword” of work in financial services, where some might have lost clients in the round of bankruptcies and mergers, yet, “there has been some increased business there because they've been in crisis mode.”

Managing such 2008 RFPs as New Balance and California Milk Advisory Board, Orsborn and his company wield great influence.

Four agencies have advanced to the final round of Home Depot's $580 million creative review, sources said.

Ogilvy Is Lead Shop Following Shootout Against Sibling Y&R

Wachovia Corp. has further narrowed its search for an agency to handle creative and media duties on its ad account, a client representative said today.

Consultancy lands more than $1.2 billion in reviews so far this year.

When it comes to conducting reviews of marketers' ad accounts, Select Resources International is eeking past rivals to become the de facto search consultancy.

Select Resources International has been tapped to oversee the review for creative and media duties on Farmers Insurance's ad account, according to sources.

The Home Depot has hired Select Resources International to lead a review of all aspects of its $500 million-plus communications business, including creative, media, PR, digital and multicultural chores, the client has confirmed.

Wachovia today selected four finalist agency teams to compete for its creative and media account.

Carat will provide consumer and trade planning and buying services across all platforms in key markets including the Americas and Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Final presentations are slated for late July. Select Resources International in Santa Monica, Calif., is managing the search.

The agencies emerged from a broader field of more than a dozen shops that replied to a request for proposals from Wachovia.

It's a relationship that started out rather serendipitously for Traffic. John Powers, president of the Hollywood, Calif., startup, said it was Select's Ms. Bension who called Traffic "out of the blue" to join the pitch.

Select Resources International, Santa Monica, Calif., conducted the review on behalf of the Freeport, Maine-based company.

As many as seven agencies are meeting with Mitsubishi Motors North America this week in pursuit of the automaker's creative business, according to sources.

Wachovia has confirmed hiring SelectResources International to oversee a review of its online and offline creative and media.

Fleishman-Hillard and Burson-Marsteller were finalists in the pitch, which was led by SelectResources International, said Dan Orsborn, senior partner at Select Resources International (SRI).

L.L. Bean looks to name a lead creative shop following the conclusion of its SRI-guided review.

Select Resources International, Santa Monica, Calif., has been tapped to conduct the review, which will also include the digital portion of the business currently handled by Organic, according to the automaker.

Bank of America has awarded Publicis Groupe's Starcom USA traditional and online media chores for all its U.S. marketing activities following a review.

"New Balance was seeking a strong, mid-sized firm with a significant service office or headquarters in New York City," said Dan Orsborn, senior partner at Select Resources International (SRI), who led New Balance's three month RFP.

The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) has retained SelectResources International to help search for an AOR to handle its national PR activities.

Several factors led to the selection of Santa Monica, Calif.-based SRI, per the client: Its experience managing large complex assignments; aptitude in both digital and traditional media spaces; and its expertise with financial service company reviews.

Sony shifts its PlayStation business to Deutsch/LA from TBWA\Chiat\Day.

MEC is one of five shops that previously split the AT&T business.

Select Resources International in Santa Monica, Calif., oversaw the search.

New Balance shifts to BBDO from Boathouse.

Consultancy Select Resources International in Santa Monica, Calif., guided the search.

ML Rogers' first work for Checkers, a TV push, breaks in the fall.

Incumbent TBWA\Chiat\Day faces four rivals in the SonyPlaystation review.

Select Resources International in Santa Monica, Calif., is guiding the process for the Boston-based client.

AT&T said the media consolidation would 'maximize efficiencies under a single-agency model.'

Boston New Balance has placed its estimated $15-20 million ad account in review, hiring Select Resources International in Santa Monica, Calif., to oversee the process.

SelectResources International will lead the Sony PlayStation review.

The account is currently split between Havas' MPG and independent agency Doner.

BBDO adds Best Buy branding work that had been handled in-house.

Hyatt's final review presentations are slated for month's end.

C-K's most recent work for Hyatt and it's portion is not in play.

Sears Holdings has selected Havas' MPG to handle media duties after a review.

Sears cut a pair of shops from contention in its $740 million media review.

Media work in play covers Sears and Kmart.

Amp'd Mobile has launched a review for the creative portion of its $65 million business, confirmed Catherine Bension, president and CEO of SelectResources International, the consultancy overseeing the process.

The La-Z-Boy work in play is worth about $35 million

Crispin, GSD&M, Fallon Among Agencies in Running

Select Resources International has been tapped to lead the creative review of Toys R Us.

Fox has awarded the international portion of its media account to Aegis Group's Vizeum, according to sources.

La-Z-Boy has placed its brand and retail gallery advertising assignments into play.

Wal-Mart has chosen Interpublic Group's The Martin Agency and Publicis Groupe's MediaVest for creative and media chores, respectively, on its $570 million ad account after a second review in less than three months.