Dec 26, 2006 6:03 AM, PROMO Xtra, By Betsy Spethmann

Promotion agency Colangelo will start work for U.S. Smokeless Tobacco in first-quarter 2007. Its assignment includes creating and executing integrated marketing campaigns for several brands, led by Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal and Husky.

Last week, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. named Colangelo, agency of record on its $15 million-to-$20 million advertising account. That includes the company’s media budget; all media strategy, planning, and buying will transition to Colangelo over the first half of the year.

This is the first advertising win for Colangelo, which was bought by Omnicom Group in October (PROMO Xtra, Oct. 31, 2006).

The agency beat out incumbent Doe Advertising, the Louisville, KY, ad agency that handled U.S. Smokeless’ advertising for four years, and a second undisclosed ad agency in a review.

U.S. Smokeless began the review earlier this year as part of Project Momentum, a corporate initiative to cut costs by improving vendor partnerships.

Colangelo has a champion in Thano Chaltas, who has been vice president of marketing at U.S. Smokeless since February 2006. Chaltas, a 13-year veteran of Kraft Foods, worked with Colangelo when he was at Kraft, predominantly on campaigns for the Post Cereals division.

Chaltas said of Colangelo’s win last week: “We are very impressed with their integrated approach to advertising and marketing communications and believe it aligns closely with our vision for engaging adult consumers in the coming years. The fact that they are located close by here in Connecticut will help to foster a strong working relationship.”

Colangelo’s Darien office is near U.S. Smokeless’ Greenwich headquarters.

Colangelo ranked No. 23 in the 2006 PROMO 100 with 2005 net revenues of just under $26 million, up 29% from 2003.

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