• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, April 29, 2008

Omnicom's OMD unit has won Intel Corp.'s estimated $300 million media planning and buying account, besting a short list that included Publicis' Starcom, and incumbent, Interpublic's Universal McCann unit.

It is the second major global media services win for OMD this year, following the consolidation of Visa's $600 million worldwide media planning and buying account at the Omnicom shop, and it comes as OMD has made a major personnel coup, raiding Initiative Media's Alan Cohen as CEO for the U.S.

The Intel pitch began in January, and Universal McCann has been the incumbent on the business since March 2005.

Universal McCannn sister shop McCann-Erickson remains Intel's lead creative shop.