• by Amy Corr  @MediaPostOTL, January 2, 2014

VML was named agency of record for NAPA AUTO PARTS, following a review. Publicis Kaplan Thaler previously handled the account. The agency will be responsible for all national creative duties, including TV, radio, print, sponsorship activation and digital elements. The Bedford Group in Atlanta managed the review. “We’re incredibly proud to be selected as NAPA’s agency of record,” said VML’s CEO and president, Jon Cook. “VML’s focus has always been about challenging conventional thinking and delivering more relevant, innovative and category-changing ideas. These were some of the priority ingredients that NAPA wanted in an agency partner, and we can’t wait to get started.” NAPA AUTO PARTS spent nearly $35 million on measured media in 2012, according to Kantar Media. Additional VML clients include Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, English Premier League, Gatorade, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Kellogg, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Southwest Airlines, Wendy’s and Xerox.