Baltimore’s Kennedy Krieger Institute has selected Minneapolis-based Preston Kelly as its brand, advertising, creative and paid media agency of record. The appointment followed a nationwide agency search. The agency is tasked with leading a comprehensive brand makeover and launch of a multi-media campaign to raise awareness in the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metro areas. Kennedy Krieger Institute provides inpatient and outpatient medical, behavioral health and wellness therapies, home and community services, school-based programs, training and education for professionals and advocacy. It’s also home to a research team dedicated to understanding how disorders develop and pioneering new  methods of early diagnosis, prevention and treatment.

Ameriprise Financial is appointing FCB West as creative agency of record following a competitive review. McCann Detroit served as the incumbent agency. Media planning and buying were not part of the review and will remain with the New York-based agency Initiative. Under this new relationship, FCB West’s San Francisco office will help the financial company evolve its brand first established nearly 15 years when American Express spun off the company as an independent firm.  The agency’s scope includes work for Columbia Threadneedle Investments. FCB West will be responsible for integrated brand creative and strategy for both organizations. Ameriprise’s advertising has ...

Babbel is assigning Interesting Development as agency partner for the U.S. following a competitive pitch. While the language learning app has worked with a number of U.S. agencies before, there was no incumbent agency. Babbel sought an agency to serve as a creative partner to provide consistent leadership across all its marketing needs. Now, Interesting Development has been enlisted to focus on brand strategy and website redesign, as well as advertising, with plans to launch a campaign later in 2020.  

Mexican food brand Cacique has appointed Gallegos United as its agency of record following a competitive review. The work was previously handled in house. The company opted to consolidate advertising efforts to a single agency with demonstrated success in reaching multiple diverse audiences. Gallegos United will lead brand strategy, creative development across all media channels and social media.  

Harvertys is naming EP+Co as the furniture retailer’s creative agency of record, while the shop’s media partner Trilia lands media responsibilities.EP+Co will collaborate with Havertys to develop an integrated marketing strategy and help drive evolution of its current brand positioning. The primary scope of work includes media, creative and digital planning efforts.

Brooklyn, NY-based agency Madwell has been appointed agency of record for car insurance company Root Insurance. The appointment came after a competitive review. Madwell will lead strategic and creative development of Root’s brand building efforts in partnership with the brand’s internal marketing and creative teams.   Root, founded in 2015, claims that it only insures “good drivers” as a way of keeping premiums lower than competitors. Customers are required to let the company track their driving by app before being approved for coverage. “In about five years, Root Insurance has scaled their business to an impressive multi-billion-dollar valuation status and ...

I-Health has appointed Terri & Sandy as agency of record for its Culturelle probiotic brand following a formal review. Culturelle has been running integrated advertising consistently for over nine years in collaboration with their previous agency, Grok. Media duties were not up for review and will continue to be handled by Crossmedia. T&S’s work will continue to showcase Jessica Alba, Culturelle’s recently signed celebrity spokesperson, with the first campaign launching in the spring.

GYK Antler has been named the lead agency for Wahlburgers, a Boston-based chain of casual dining burger restaurants and bars owned by chef Paul Wahlberg and his brothers, actors Donnie Wahlberg and Mark Wahlberg. The family-owned business has more than 34 restaurants in North America, the UK and Europe and was featured in the A&E reality show about the Wahlberg family. The agency is part of the recently formed York Creative Collective that was founded by Travis York, the CEO of GYK, which became part of the collective along with several other charter members. 

RealEats is hiring French/West/Vaughn (FMV) to spearhead the healthy meal service’s social media responsibilities. FWV has initiated a partnership with former NFL running back Rashad Jennings, winner of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” He served as the brand’s spokesperson on media row at Super Bowl LIV in Miami and will promote RealEats through additional activations on social media, and a consumer sweepstakes.  

Australian pay TV service Foxtel has appointed Saatchi & Saatchi as its strategic advertising and creative agency. DDB was the incumbent.  Kieren Cooney, Foxtel’s Chief Marketing and Sales Officer noted the numerous advances Foxtel had made to its offering over the past couple of years including the recently launched Foxtel Now streaming service.  “Now is the right time to bring all this to life in our brand and we are very pleased to appoint Saatchi & Saatchi as our brand and advertising partner,” she stated.  The appointment follows a formal review.