Cars.com will be an advertiser in the Super Bowl for the fifth consecutive year with one 30-second commercial during the third quarter. Part of its "Confidence" campaign will tout the company's vehicle and dealership reviews, comparison tools and pricing guides. DDB Chicago, the site's advertising agency of record, will develop the spots.  

Bob Iger will step down as CEO of Walt Disney Co. in March 2015, the company announced. Iger, who succeeded long-time Disney chief Michael Eisner in October 2005, will stay on as executive chairman of the company though June 30, 2016.

Volkswagen of America, Inc. has extended its partnership with NHL team the New York Rangers. The sponsorship for the 2011-2012 season includes in-arena activation at Madison Square Garden, online and on-air activation. The Herndon, VA-based company will again have the in-arena fan contest, the "Shoot. Score. Drive." Challenge, dangling 10 different Volkswagen vehicles throughout the season, including the new Passat.   At ten select games one fan will have the opportunity to take a shot from the far blue line for the chance to win a two-year lease on a Volkswagen vehicle. Volkswagen will highlight and offer fans the …

French dairy company Groupe Bel has selected Omnicom's OMD to handle the bulk of its $200 million global media assignment, after a formal review, the client has confirmed. Publicis Groupe's ZenithOptimedia also retained its assignment covering the Middle East and North Africa. OMD retained the U.S. and Canada and won the majority of Europe, which had been handled by Aegis Group's Carat. OMD also retained the UK business. Also pitching the account was WPP's Mindshare. According to sources it was OMD's Chicago office that led the agency's pitch. The Chicago office has handled the client's U.S. business …

Consumers ignored the scary headlines and handwringing and went clothes shopping anyway in September, creating solid sales gains for the nation's biggest retailers. Spurred by chillier weather and a strong back-to-school season, chains like Macy's, Target, and Kohl's say they are encouraged by people willing to shop when they see products (and prices) that appeal to them. Overall, chain-store sales rose 5.5% according to the International Council of Shopping Centers. And luxury sales climbed 10.4%. "Sales, although receiving a lift from fuel, still posted a very healthy gain for the month of September," Michael P. Niemira, VP/chief economist for …

A wonderful tribute to customer service. This is what it's all about, folks!

Vringo has brought its Facetones social application to Verizon's V Cast Apps store. The Facetones app lets users creates an automated video slideshow using friends' photos from social networking and photo sites and then plays the slideshow when the phone rings. The app, which is available through a 99 cent monthly subscription or purchase of $2.99, will initially integrate with Facebook. Relaunched in March, Verizon's app storefront can be accessed on more than 20 Android and BlackBerrydevices and offers thousands of apps, games and other content. It also includes direct billing of purchases to customers' monthly wireless bills. …

Publicis Groupe's ZenithOptimedia has promoted two of its own to fill the shoes of David Ehlers, who this summer was promoted to president of Optimedia U.S. The agency network has promoted Neil Ascher to the new position of North American managing director, president, diversified services for ZenithOptimedia. In addition, the shop promoted Sean Peters to senior vice president, director of corporate development. Ehlers succeeded Antony Young, who left Optimedia to become North American CEO at WPP's Mindshare. Previously, Ehlers' duties included oversight of corporate development, Newcast and ZO Multicultural. Ascher will oversee core diversified businesses operated …

Steve Jobs, who cofounded Apple and later led the company through its most innovative and profitable period to date, is dead at the age of 56. Jobs had battled cancer since his diagnosis with islet cell neuroendocrine cancer in 2004, including a liver transplant in the first half of 2009. Jobs announced his resignation as CEO of Apple in August of this year, handing the top spot over to chief operating officer Tim Cook.

Android maintained a sizeable lead over its rivals for the three months ending in August, with a 43.7% share of the U.S. smartphone market, according to new comScore data. That level represents a 5.6 percentage point gain from the previous three-month period. By contrast, Research in Motion's BlackBerry platform saw its share fall from 24.7% to 19.7% during the summer months as the once leading smartphone player in the U.S. continued to struggle against Google and Apple. Apple's share increased almost one percentage point to 27.3%, second only to Android. Rounding out the top five were Microsoft's …