Business and technology publication Wired has tapped Dentsu Aegis’ Isobar to serve as digital experience agency for the upcoming Wired25, a four-day event marking the publication’s 25th anniversary next month in San Francisco.  Isobar will consult on digital experiences at the Wired25 event, create a Wired app for iOS and Android, and work with the publication to curate a series of experiments that explore emerging technology and new forms of storytelling.  The app can be used by attendees and non-attendees to experience the event and will be maintained as a mobile platform for Wired going forward.  

Beauty Pie has appointed The Beyond Collective agencies, Above+Beyond and Yonder Media, as the cosmetic brand's first AORs (creative and media respectively) following a competitive review. The startup brand’s model works as a membership program by selling high-quality domestic and skincare products at cost. Members, for instance, pay $10 a month to purchase $7.57 foundation that usually retails for $44.  While the brand has primarily relied on its founder and serial entrepreneur, Marcia Kilgore, who launched brands Bliss, FitFlop and Soap & Glory, for press and media coverage, this account assignment will introduce Beauty Pie's first traditional advertising both in the ...

Overland Park, KS-based JNA Advertising has been named agency of record for Palmetto Moon, a specialty gift and Southern lifestyle apparel chain.  JNA will serve as the lead advertising and marketing agency providing brand strategy, media planning and buying, in-store experience, creative, digital and public relations services.  The retailer is based in Charleston, SC and now has around 20 locations and an “aggressive expansion plan,” per the company.      

Philadelphia-based brand communications agency Brownstein Group has been selected to execute research and “narrative development” for the Philadelphia Global Identity Project, a program that’s backed by the city and a consortium of organizations the aim of which is to develop a new brand identity for the Greater Philadelphia region.  Brownstein was awarded the work following a bidding process that included more than a dozen agencies from across the country.  The Identity Project is tasked with developing ways to capitalize on recent events--such as the city’s hosting of the last Democratic National Convention, the World Meeting of Families with Pope Francis ...

Kitchen appliance maker Breville has consolidated its global media account with Canvas Worldwide after a formal review. Previously, Canvas handled the U.S. assignment and will now service the account across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific where the client markets its products. The agency’s remit includes all media communications, planning and activation responsibilities across all channels for the Australia-based client’s home appliances portfolio spanning contact grills, kettles, espresso machines, toasters, microwave ovens, pressure cookers, coffeemakers, breadmakers, juicers, deep fryers, blenders and food processors. The company spends and estimated $40 million on measured media. The Breville business will be led at ...

Austin-based T3 has won the review to oversee the global digital transformation for the 200-eatery chain Le Pain Quotidien. Under the remit, T3 will work to develop a "seamless experience" by overhauling the brand's website, online ordering and loyalty program. The first work will debut in Q4. T3 has expertise in this category with 15 quick-service restaurant clients on its roster, including  Pizza Hut, the entire Focus Brands portfolio which includes Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Cinnabon, Schlotzsky’s, and McAlister’s as well as local brands Torchy’s Tacos and Hopdoddy Burger Bar.

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is appointing Wavemaker to handle all of the charity's media planning and buying in the UK and Ireland following a formal review. The incumbent agency was OMD. While the group's creative primarily relies on showcasing real crew members to raise money, its media strategies have been innovative and wide-ranging. Past programs have included promotion via food wraps at fish and chips establishments and the Lifeboat Launch SMS alert that is designed to raise funds by alerting supporters every time their local lifeboat goes out.  Founded in 1824, RNLI provides on-call 24-hour lifeboat service around the ...

Belmont, MA-based McLean Hospital is hiring MARC USA's Cogniscient Media as its paid search engine marketing agency following a competitive review. The mental health operator previously worked with Forge.Cogniscient Media will be responsible for driving awareness of addiction and other mental health services at both a regional and national level. One area of particular relevancy will be addressing the on-going problems with opioid addiction.  McLean, an affiliate of Harvard University, has been recognized in the mental health industry for its innovative awareness programs. The new search campaign is designed to connect with the hospital's over-arching message that "immediate help is just ...

United Airlines is conducting global media and digital agency reviews. Wavemaker is the incumbent media agency and Wunderman is believed to handle digital work for the airline company.United spent an estimated $31 million on measured media in the U.S. last year according to Kantar Media. Global spending was not available.  Campaign reported the news first and cited a Wavemaker spokesperson as confirming that the GroupM agency will participate in the review.  A client rep did not return a query seeking comment. Wunderman could not be immediately reached.

Northwestern Mutual has appointed Horizon Next, the media agency's direct marketing division as media AOR following a formal review. Incumbent Spark Foundry did not defend.  Horizon Next will be tasked with overseeing strategic communications planning, media activation and advanced analytics across all media channels. While the financial company currently services 4.5 million people across life, disability income, and long-term care insurance, among others, it has struggled — like its rivals — with attracting Millennial clients. Later this year, the company will relaunch LearnVest, which it acquired in 2015, as a financial education website.  "The company already has an impressively robust ...