J. Walter Thompson

In early April, JWT CEO Rosemarie Ryan informed the staff of the Chicago office that the location would be closing. There was one remaining shred of hope that could keep the shop open: the Illinois Board of Tourism — an account that was up for review at the time of the reported closing. Sources close to the matter tell us JWT has retained the account, meaning the Chicago location will remain open as a field office.

I was able to dig up a document from the state of Illinois services bidding Web site, which states,

"The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is giving notice of intent to award a contract resulting from the Illinois Bureau of Tourism/Marketing Commmunications Agency RFP 22016279 to JWT Chicago.

"JWT Chicago will provide advertising services to assist DCEO in the planning and execution of marketing and advertising programs to promote Illinois as a tourism destination. The marketing and advertising programs will encompass, but not be limited to, domestic and international tourism. The responsibilities will include (but are not limited to) the following: (click here for the details)."

We hear about 15 to 20 staff will remain in the office to service the account.

In a blog post published earlier this week about the apparent lack of leadership at the Chicago office of Ogilvy & Mather, Chicago Sun Times columnist Lewis Lazare wrote, "It has been apparent for some time that (O&M's) game plan was pretty much like that of the sorry management team of the about-to-die JWT/Chicago. In other words, let the whole thing sink into the muck and mire due to inertia and neglect."

Lazare may have gotten ahead of himself in saying, "about to die," as it seems the shop has turned fear of death into some much needed inspiration. Kudos to you, JWT's ibot team — you know who you are.

More: "Update: JWT Chicago Closed"

During a creative meeting at JWT New York yesterday, Harvey Marco informed the department that ECD Kash Sree resigned from the agency.

Sree, who joined the agency in spring 2007, worked on the Diamond Trading Company. Much of his team, we've learned, were among those let go to make way for those senior level creatives we told you about last week.

We haven't heard where Sree is headed.

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More: "JWT Changes Things Up"

Yesterday we told you about Tom Christmann's entrance to the JWT team. We learned that he was one of about 6 CDs being brought on to strengthen the creative bench, and he will be joined by Laura Fegley and Josh Kilmer-Purcell. Today we have the rest of the details, thanks to you (note: they're all CDs).

You Already Knew
— Christmann, as mentioned, will be a CD on Microsoft in Walt Connelly's group.

— Kilmer-Purcell is on HSBC and Kimberly-Clark, reporting to Connelly and Sarah Barclay.

— Fegley is heading to Nestle, reporting to Paul Bichler.

New Info
— Jim Wood will be on Macy's account, reporting to Wayne Best.

— Bill Courtney is on The Royal Caribbean team, reports to Bichler.

— Louis-Philippe Tremblay is also on Microsoft.

The Bad News
In order to clear some space for these new hires, ECD Harvey Marco had to let a few go. We haven't been successful in finding out who or how many, but a group was sacrificed to make room, mostly mid-level creatives. Out the window like that fabled desk.

The agency did undergo some layoffs a little over a week ago, about 1% of the New York staff. Sources close to the matter say that move came from on high — WPP, that is. Let us know if you have more info there. AgencySpy at mediabistro dot com.

Oh and former JWT London Global ECD Fernanda Romano, one of AdAge's women to watch, left the agency to take up a 6 month gig at Euro RSCG London as global creative director for digital and experiential advertising. After that, we hear she's taking some time off to chill out in Spain, the land that I love. Adweek has more.

Update: We hear Kash Sree's group was the one that was let go.

More: "Tom Christmann Lands at JWT NY, First of Many High Level CDs"

Tom Christmann, former ECD from Cliff Freeman, is one of a half dozen high level CDs JWT New York is adding to its bench over the next few weeks, confirmed sources close to the matter.

Whether Christmann would find another gig was never a question, according to people who worked with him in previous agencies. It was just a question of where. According to my sources, Christmann is just one of 6 (or so) creatives who are considered high level that JWT is bringing on — if there is a special task in mind for this yet-to-be-named team we aren't sure. The CDs are all considered "very high level."

Christmann will report to Walt Connelly on the Microsoft account. More on this later today.

Update 1: Sources tell us Laura Fegley and Josh Kilmer-Purcell are among the top level CDs being brought on. "Laura worked with Josh at Merkley years ago, then Tom (Christmann) worked with Josh at Kirshenbaum after that," said a source.

More: "ECD Tom Christmann Left Cliff Freeman"

Update: This shoot is for Microsoft's search business (codename Kiev) — which JWT has already won. This is not to be confused with codename Pink/Tribe, the mobile business that's being kept on the down low.

This is why we need interns. I'm hearing that right now, JWT's (NY) super-secret campaign (but less secretive than the pitch for mobile) for Microsoft's search business is being shot down on Houston here in Manhattan. Damnit, I may go dark for awhile and go seek them out. I'll be the guy in the trench with aviators and an umbrella. And a tiny camera!

I'm told the team is shooting two New York well-knowns. Oops, did that just slip out?

Ten points for the spy who sends me pics of video of the crew in action (agencyspy @ mediabistro dot com).

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More: "Codename Pink, Er, Tribe; Whatever, This is About Microsoft's New Search Tool and Campaign"

Dan Wieden was recently in New Delhi visiting the India-based branch of his agency. The shop was opened in late 2007 to handle W+K's global work for Nokia. And while the agency currently doesn't touch the Nike brand in India (that is left up to JWT), it will soon have "some sort of an arrangement" according to the legendary ad man. No one should be surprised to see that Nike is looking to give W+K a slice of the pie now that this new branch is up and running at full steam.

In a recent interview, Wieden was asked how his agency is doing during this time of fiscal crisis. "It is interesting because unlike the dot-com crash where everybody just froze in places, this time there has been an upheaval. There are a lot of pitches and businesses up for grabs. So, we have actually benefited from that." Kind of like this Nike India thing, hunh?

More: The Dark Battle To Stay In The Black: Publicis Vs. WPP

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While McCann has the title of "lead agency" on the Microsoft business. Right now, you are probably snickering into your morning coffee at the term considering the brand engages quite a few shops on its business these days: Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Razorfish and more recently, JWT. And those are just the ones above the board. Who knows who is doing little assignments here and there?

Microsoft has recently put these agencies in a dog pit to face off for the brand's nameless, faceless new mobile application. Our guess is that this mysterious piece of business is Windows Mobile 7 or The Windows Marketplace (the new app store for people running Windows OS on their mobile phone), since PR agencies are currently engaged in a pitch for those accounts. Let the games begin, but perhaps, McCann might want to consider this as a warning shot from the brand. According to Adweek, "Kevin Turner, Microsoft's chief operating officer who joined the company in August 2005, is not a proponent of a single agency partner and has pushed for bringing in other shops."

This reminds us of when McCann was forced to fight for project from their other long time parter, Intel, back in November. Just three months later, the entire account was moved to Venables, Bell and Partners. Stick and move McCann and keep your left up while you're at it.

More: From JWT To The Pond

Rosemarie Ryan, president of JWT North America, told the staff at JWT Chicago today that the office is closing.

JTW Chicago was staffed by 50 employees. The agency first opened in 1891, and after 118 years it's shutting its doors with just three remaining clients. The Illinois Board of Tourism account is in review and, according to sources familiar with the matter, could keep the office open if the review is successful. More to come on that matter.

The other remaining accounts, Nestle ice cream brands and Kimberly-Clark's, are being absorbed by JWT New York.

For more details on this story, click here.

More: "From JWT To The Pond"

Here's an ad for the Wilkinson Sword Quattro for Women, the UK's version of the Schick Quattro (for women). It's the same damn product, marketed under a different company name. You know what, it's about time we stopped being all "ooo ahhh, sensual, fluffiness, vagiinaaaaaaahh" about the whole pubic hair reassignment process. You either tear it out with wax, slice it off with a razor, trim it like a ninny with scissors or let it grow to ridiculous 70s era lengths. Look, no one likes coughing up one of those curly things so keep that in mind you non-groomers.

Anyway we heard there's some dramz behind this work. See, JWT New York came up with the genius idea to parody the whole "mowing the lawn" theme and be open about it. So they brought it to Schick, but then one of Schick's French local groups heard the idea and scurried over to their local advertisers who put some other less good version of the above piece together and rushed it to YouTube before JWT NY could say "tulips on the mound."

We haven't seen that ad but we know it exists. More on that when JWT gets into work. Needless to say, this piece is much better than the last one.

More: "Trim That Bush Ladies"

Sophie Kelly, who was the executive management director of Diageo over at JWT, has hopped over to StrawberryFrog New York. Kelly will be managing the Frito Lay brands for the agency, which includes TrueNorth snacks, Stacy's Pita Chips and the hummus brand Sabra.

This is no small move. Kelly joins the management team at the agency, which includes Scott Goodson, global planning director (the awesome) Ilana Bryant, head of planning Chip Walker and executive creative director Kevin McKeon and Ramesh Rajan, who runs business over at the pond.

More: JWT and JetBlue: Stick it in Your Eye, CEOs Etc.