Microsoft appoints McCann Worldwide to Windows account

Microsoft has chosen McCann-Erickson Worldwide to handle the

advertising for its flagship Windows product with a budget estimated to

be in excess of dollars 50 million.

The adspend for Windows is expected to be boosted later this year as

Microsoft gears up for the launch of Windows 2000, the much-delayed

upgrade to its high-end Windows NT operating system for powerful desktop

and server computers.

The Windows account had previously been handled by Wieden & Kennedy,

which continues to handle the software giant’s global brand advertising.

However, the launch of the next Windows operating system is likely to

carry some brand responsibility and puts McCann in line for more

work.

McCann will run the account out of its New York and San Francisco

offices, and will work closely with its sister Interpublic Group agency

and the technology specialist, Anderson & Lembke.

Anderson & Lembke, which is also based in San Francisco, already handles

about dollars 100 million worth of Microsoft business. IPG is also

considering a merger of A&L’s San Francisco office with McCann’s to

create a single Microsoft team on the West Coast.

A Microsoft spokesman said: ’McCann-Erickson New York and San Francisco

will work in alliance with Anderson & Lembke San Francisco in a

specially created virtual team. We look forward to the creativity and

ingenuity that the combined McCann team brings to the table.’

This article was first published on Campaign