John Zwierzko, a.k.a. Johnny Z returned to JWT as a producer, engineer and sound designer. A 22-year agency veteran, he nonetheless was canned during a wave of firings 17 months ago. Between JWT stints, Z edited with Spots BME.
Ace rep Donna Daguanno returns to Chicago after a short seven month stint in her native Baltimore. Within minutes of returning, she signed with L.A.-based Reactor (director Steve Chase)… Due to return to Chicago is former Chicago Film Critics Award show producer Sue Kiner, after three years in London.
Women’s Ad Club is calling for nominees for its 2004 Advertising Woman of the Year. For an entry form, call the CAF’s Kay Granath, 847/375-4764. Deadline is March 29. Luncheon will be held in mid-July. WAC president for the fifth year is Jennifer Fondrevay, VP/account supervisor at Noble-BBDS, who also now has a seat on the CAF board.
Tatham fired 12 of its 14-person media department following the departure of $80 million Red Lobster business to the Dallas-based Richards Group.
Fusion Idea Lab in short order up gained three new accounts: $5 million from the 600-store Chicago-Northwest Indiana Subway franchisee; the First Bank of Oak Park — the bank’s first agency and L.A.-based TV Guide Channel.
IFO director Brenda Sexton is reputedly writing her life story tentatively titled “Truth,” as Michael Sneed noted in her Sun-Times column. Now a multimillionaire, Sexton will no doubt recount her rags-to-riches story.
LaSalle Bank at least kept its $20 million ad account in town when it switched to BBDO from Cramer-Krasselt. There’d been speculation it might’ve gone to BBDO/Detroit.
Don’t despair if business seems unduly slow. Traditionally, the slowest business periods are the weeks before April 15/Easter, and an election.
