Ad Agency

It’s 2008. The advertising agency business is definitely going to change this year.

Alma DDB’s team headed by Luis Miguel Messianu has been assigned by Sony Latin America the launch of the new Handycam campaign in Latin America.

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has selected New York based The Vidal Partnership (TVP) and Miami based La Comunidad to handle its U.S. Hispanic efforts.

In today’s society “urban” and multicultural influencers have permeated pop culture. Hip Hop moguls and urban brands have taken to the general market more so now than ever. Many top-tier brands have sourced multicultural marketing agencies to reach a coveted multicultural audience and add an urban “touch” to their mainstream campaigns. However, if 2007 was any indicator, then 2008 will see a dramatic decrease in blue chip brands seeking out multicultural agencies to lead these campaigns.

Are ad agencies and agency holding companies destined for some significant changes in 2008? I was part of panel discussion earlier this week at the Gridley Conference in New York that addressed that issue, among others facing the media and marketing services industries. The consensus of the panel was yes; structural changes are coming to the industry, and we may very well see some of them start playing out in 2008.

Cynthia McFarland previously EVP Managing Director of Conill’s US Hispanic operations assumes a new role as she becomes the Chairwoman of Conill and the new President of Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi in Latin America.

Carlos Martinez who was previously the EVP General Manager of the Conill Los Angeles offices, becomes the new EVP Managing Director for Conill for the US Hispanic Market.

Where should we begin to detail the milestones in a very illustrious career dedicated to helping build awareness about the importance of the US Hispanic Consumer and the media that serve in delivering hope, information and advertising of products and services to this segment.

Associate Creative Director Dan Peralta and Senior Designer Manaf Al-Naqeeb have joined Sensis in its quest to help its clients capitalize on these diverse markets.

Dieste Harmel & Partners announced their decision to resign the JCPenney account. The Agency informed the retailer last December of their decision. Since 2004, Dieste has been the Hispanic agency of record for the company.

LatinWorks has been assigned Hispanic national and local media planning and buying chores for Domino’s Pizza following a review. Prior to the win, LatinWorks had exclusively handled the Hispanic creative portion of the business since 2005.

The Vidal Partnership was part of the WPP Group team along with MindShare, RMG Connect and UniWorld that won the $90 million account.