News Briefs
COURVOISIER: will be back on the road next month for a fall tour to 10 markets. Spokesman Fonzworth Bentley will make appearances at local venues with the Courvoisier Bentley Ladies. The events include style makeovers for men and awards. Allied Domecq Spirits, the maker of Courvoisier, signed Bentley as their ambassador last spring.
VIJAY SINGH: signed a sponsorship agreement with 84 Lumber Co. last week, then showed the company his appreciation by winning the 84 Lumber Classic at Nemacolin Woodlands in Farmington, PA. Singh, the world’s top-ranked golfer, will wear the 84 Lumber logo on the side of his visor, make personal appearances and participate in golf events for the company. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
WILSON SPORTING GOODS: has re-signed its sponsorship agreement with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) solidifying Wilson as the official ball of Davis Cup and other ITF initiatives for the next three years. Beginning in 2005, Wilson will also be producing an official Davis Cup tennis racket.
ALLIANZ LIFE: has signed a two-year agreement to become the presenting sponsor of the PGA Tour’s West Coast Swing beginning in 2005. The Swing encompasses the first nine tournaments of the season and offers a $1 million bonus pool that is divided among the top three West Coast performers, as determined by a points system. The winner receives $500,000 while the runner-up receives $300,000 and the third-place finisher gets $200,000.
THRIFTY CAR RENTAL: has launched its Football Giveaway or Getaway sweepstakes, giving football fans and non-fans a chance to compete for prizes. One grand-prize winner will receive airfare for four and their choice of either four general admission tickets to a major college football bowl game or four passes to a luxurious day spa. The contest takes place at www.thrifty.com.
STARZ ENCORE GROUP: has named Amy Kuessner as senior director, program marketing, a new position. She will develop and execute the adoption and deployment of corporate marketing programs. Most recently, she was director, acquisition marketing for DirecTV.
SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT’S: Epic Records group has extended a distribution and marketing deal with Integrity Music Group, a Christian music company. Under the deal, Epic will market and distribute releases from Integrity-owned and associated labels to mainstream retail outlets. The distribution arm has been named Provident-Integrity Distribution.
10TH DEGREE: Irvine, CA, named Priya Singh Verma VP-media and strategic initiatives to oversee all media planning and buying at the direct and interactive marketing agency. She had been interactive media director for Saatchi & Saatchi, Los Angeles.
FORTUNE SMALL BUSINESS MAGAZINE: named Momentum Marketing President Brad Nierenberg to its Best Boss list. Nierenberg, one of 15 bosses profiled in Fortune’s October issue, got high marks for Momentum’s corporate culture and field staff training. Alexandria, VA-based Momentum ranked No. 21 on the 2004 PROMO 100 list.
CARLSON MARKETING GROUP: Minneapolis, named Jim Slusser account general manager, a new post, overseeing work for The Home Depot. Slusser had been Web director for Sure Fit, Inc. before joining Carlson.
