10 bigggest stories of 2003.(The Book of Tens)

Advertising Age, December, 2003

1 Coke Classic to Anoint Berlin

Coca-Cola and Berlin Cameron & Partners/Red Cell repeatedly denied their dalliance was more than a flirtation. But by February it was the real thing: Interpublic's McCann-Erickson, New York, was cuckolded. While McCann continues to handle creative in 60 countries, the WPP agency is Coke's bridegroom in the U.S. And by year's end, Universal McCann suffered another indignity as Coca-Cola handed its $350 million media account to yet another suitor, Publicis Groupe's Starcom MediaVest.

2 GM blasts Publicis for poaching

Call it "Rittergate." General Motors was so steamed at Publicis Groupe for hiring former truck executive Kurt Ritter to work on rival Toyota that ad chief C.J. Fraleigh lashed out in public, calling...

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