News Briefs

PROCTER & GAMBLE:

has been given permission by the European Commission to take over German hair care group Wella. The $5.7 billion deal is the largest in P&G's history, exceeding the $4.95 billion P&G paid for Clairol in 2001, according to news reports.

THE RADIATE GROUP: named Keith Bruce executive VP-global sports, working in Radiate's New Berlin, WI office at the headquarters of Radiate cornerstone GMR Marketing. Bruce will "accelerate the substantial amount of sports marketing business to our growing global sports marketing practice" and help agencies in the Radiate network leverage their own sports initiatives, said Radiate CEO Gary Reynolds. Bruce had been founder and senior VP-general manager of 361 Marketing, Chicago.

DRAFT CHICAGO: has been chosen by Nuveen Investments, Inc. to create new direct marketing and other communications programs. The partnership takes effect immediately.

DIAGEO: named US Concepts, New York City, as its agency of record for on-premise marketing for Stamford, CT-based Diageo North America, Inc. and Diageo-Guinness USA. The agency also renewed its contract with Schieffelin & Somerset, the joint venture between Diageo and LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. US Concepts will oversee on-premise executions for more than 20 beer, wine and spirits brands, including Smirnoff, Guinness and Captain Morgan.

CRN INTERNATIONAL: Hamden, CT, adds offices in Minneapolis and Rochester, NY, to serve Midwestern and upstate New York clients with radio-based promotions.