• The Oregonian, Monday, December 17, 2007 10:45 AM

Beer is back -- big-time -- at Wieden + Kennedy with news that Heineken USA has tapped the Portland shop for its creative account. Taking over from Berlin Cameron United, WK will now have global agency responsibility in English ads for Heineken and Heineken Light. And it gives the agency its first major beer account since Miller Brewing waved it farewell two years ago.

"It's great to be back in the beer business," said Global Chief Operating Officer David Luhr. "It's a category where advertising is very important." The nation's largest independent ad agency has been on a tear this year, despite losing some business from lead client Nike. WK's billings for 2007 look to hit $1.65 billion, up 18% form last year. It has also opened offices in Delhi and Beijing this year, for a total of eight worldwide offices.

But Heinieken was a real coup: It vied for the account earlier this year but pulled out over "strategic differences." Heineken then awarded the work to Berlin Cameron, only to later re-approach WK on its own hook.

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