PURCHASE, NY: MasterCard has ended its two-month review by choosing
Waggener Edstrom. Other agencies said to have pitched are Ogilvy PR,
Manning Selvage & Lee, and 18-month incumbent Brodeur Worldwide. WagEd
will work on North American business including member relations, debit
cards, online bill payment, and new lines of businesses accepting
MasterCard.
WagEd's Stamford, CT office, due to open January 1, 2002, will service
the account with backup from Portland, OR, and Seattle. SVP Keith
Lindenburg will co-lead the office with SVP LeeAnn French, who will
relocate from Portland.
MasterCard is not interested in having an agency of record, according to
Sharon Gamsin, VP of global communications for MasterCard
International.
"It is a fairly significant piece of business," said Gamsin. "Waggener
Edstrom's presentation impressed us. We're looking forward to working
with them."
- See profile, p.13.
