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News highlights

WPP and Nielsen to swap certain businesses

The Nielsen Company and WPP have signed a definitive agreement to swap certain assets, as a regulatory condition of TNS joining WPP. In effect, this brings to WPP the following three businesses: SRDS, a leading provider of media rates and data to the advertising industry, PERQ/HCI, provider of insights into media planning, trading and post campaign effectiveness in the healthcare field and an increased stake in IBOPE, the market leading Latin American media market and opinion research company. All three businesses will join the Kantar Group. In return, Nielsen will acquire WPP's stake in AGBNielsen Market Research giving Nielsen total ownership.

Ogilvy names Tham Khai Meng Worldwide Creative Director

Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide has appointed Tham Khai Meng as its Worldwide Creative Director and Chairman of its World Wide Creative Council. Khai has been Co-Chairman and Regional Executive Creative Director for Ogilvy & Mather Asia Pacific since 1999.

New offers

24/7 Real Media and OgilvyOne enter joint venture

24/7 Real Media, Inc. and OgilvyOne China?s ITOP Performance Marketing division are entering a joint venture to create ITOP 24/7. Based in Beijing, ITOP 24/7 will be a Chinese display and contextual advertising network that will enable advertisers and publishers to effectively and efficiently engage their target audiences in the digital marketplace.

Genesis Burson-Marsteller to offer CSR solutions to clients

Genesis Burson-Marsteller has announced an ?exclusive? partnership with the NGO, Hand in Hand (www.hihseed.org), to offer CSR expertise and services to its clients. This alliance will offer Genesis? clients not only opportunities to participate in credible, cost-effective and sustainable CSR programmes, but also expertise to develop, implement and monitor programmes that make a difference to the communities they support. Contact Ashwani Singla, CEO, Genesis Burson-Marsteller, ashwani.singla@bm.com.

New business

BMW North America consolidates brief into Grey

MediaCom wins Genesis in Korea

Cheetham Bell JWT Manchester wins Whitbread

Awards, Winners, Movers & Shakers

JWT India wins ?Agency of the Year? at 2008 Effies

New business enquiries

Are you looking for an advertising or marketing services partner? WPP can help point you in the right direction - find out how.

Work in Progress: Ten Trends for 2009

By JWT

If two words could sum up 2008, they would be "economic uncertainty." Iin JWT?s fourth annual year-end forecast of trends for the near future, the economy is a common thread. Other recurring themes include technology and the environment.

Direct-To-Consumer Advertising Works

By Millward Brown

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) drug advertising in the United States has been a subject of much controversy since restrictions on the practice were eased in 1998. Millward Brown ask: are DTC ads worth the investment?

Mobile Marketing Essentials

By Matthieu Vermeulen & Paul Amsellem

How do you tie in a mobile marketing strategy into your existing marketing plan? The authors look at social trends that drive the use of mobile phones, explaining why a mobile phone is such a personal device and what this means for marketing strategy.