BORDER LINES: B-M lands Sony brief in US

NEW YORK: Burson-Marsteller has won the account for Sony's US consumer electronics group, beating Ogilvy PR in a head-to-head pitch. Sony repitched the account after eight years with incumbent agency Mindstorm Communications (PR Week, 27 October), leaving Ogilvy and B-M to fight it out for the brief, worth around pounds 1.7 million. B-M will take over the work in January, with director Tracey Pontarelli heading the account. Sony spokesman Brian Levine said B-M's media relations capabilities and experience dealing with major brands swayed the decision.