The Nautilus Group, a marketer and manufacturer of fitness equipment, has appointed a number of Interpublic Group companies, led by Foote Cone & Belding (FCB), to manage a consolidated worldwide advertising and marketing program beginning the fourth quarter of 2004. The assignment will be led by the Seattle office of FCB, which will be in charge of strategic planning and creative direction and ID Media, Marketing Drive, The Hacker Group, Marketing Corporation of America, and other IPG companies, will also work on the account. The account is expected to exceed $95 million and includes Nautilus, Bowflex, Schwinn Fitness and Stairmaster brands. ID Media will handle all media (TV, print, and online) for the numerous brands, encompassing both branding and direct response assignments.

Porsche has placed its estimated $45 million U.S. media planning and buying account into review. PHD, New York, presently handles the account.

AutoZone has placed its estimated $90 million account in review. The account is presently handled in-house.

Ogilvy & Mather, New York beat out Deutsch, Fallon, and Leo Burnett for Time Warner Cable's ad account. Industry sources estimate the account value at $20 million.

Sanofi-Aventis, a pharmaceutical company headquartered in France, has awarded Euro RSCG Life the global advertising account for the thrombosis treatment Lovenox and for Lantus and Apidra diabetes treatment. The assignment includes advertising, medical education, public relations, medical DTC and interactive in 60 countries including the 12 major worldwide markets. Spending was not disclosed.

Texas Instruments has placed its global ad account into review. Spending was not revealed.

Hanft Raboy & Partners (HRP), the advertising and marketing arm of Hanft Unlimited, has added JT International, the third largest global tobacco company, to its client roster. HRP was awarded the multi-million dollar campaign for JT International’s Wave and Export A cigarette brands. The review, conducted by Linda Fidelman of Advice & Advisors, involved 11 agencies over an eight-week period.

Leap Wireless International, a provider of wireless communications services, has hired Element 79 Partners to create its latest campaign effort. The new campaign will focus on promoting Cricket, Leap Wireless' value of wireless services, including unlimited long distance and will consist of print, radio and television components. Media planning will be handled by PHD US. Spending was not revealed.

VISIT FLORIDA has selected CKPR to help restore positive perceptions about Florida as a travel destination in the wake of an active hurricane season. In addition, CKPR was chosen to launch a program titled “Downtowns and Small Towns.” The account will be managed out of CKPR’s Orlando office, with support from the agency’s New York office. CKPR beat out finalists Fleishman-Hillard, Lou Hammond & Associates, and Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell. The account is valued at more than $175,000.