DraftWorldwide, Chicago, united its promotion marketing capabilities into a single entity called Surge at DraftWorldwide. The unit includes the promotional operations of Draft along with lifestyle marketing specialist KBA Marketing and event outfit Group III Promotions. The alignment creates a single profit center for the three businesses, which until now had been operating independently. … GEM Group, Atlanta, was acquired by U.K.-based CSS Stellar, a sports and entertainment management company, in a $30 million deal. GEM retains its name; chief strategic officer Chris Lang will open a North American office for CSS. … Hawkeye Communications, New York City, acquired U.K. direct marketing consultancy Custometrics. … DVC Group, Morristown, NJ, laid off about eight percent of its workforce, or 25 employees, in late June. President Sue Furlong said the move was not financially motivated, but “more of a reorganization” to better position the company to “adjust to different marketplace needs.” … Account action: G2, New York City, a unit of Grey Global Group, was named to handle on-premise marketing for the Absolut brand of vodkas. Upshot, Chicago, which lost the account, will continue handling other segments of Absolut’s program. Absolut is being distributed in the U.S. through a new joint venture between Vin & Sprit of Sweden and Fortune Brands’ Jim Beam Brands Worldwide, Lexington, KY. … Nascent Circle One — so young it was still looking for an office at press time — scored its first win by gaining work from Boston-based Gillette Co.’s Duracell division. The Connecticut shop was launched by three Marketing Drive Worldwide veterans. … Colle+McVoy, Minneapolis, named to handle integrated marketing by Jazzercise, Carlsbad, CA, and separately the Minnesota Office of Tourism. … Promotions.com, New York City, named to handle online campaigns by U.K.-based Guinness Book of World Records and New York City-based Latin America portal StarMedia Network.

Lake Capital, Chicago, began making good on its promise to build up DVC Worldwide, Morristown, NJ, by acquiring marketing shop Media Designs International, New York City, and its BrandGames youth practice. Acquisitions began in April with the purchase of U.K.-based Bray Leino Group. … Gem Group, Atlanta, acquired Minneapolis-based creative design agency Studio One. … The Marketing Store Worldwide, Oak Brook, IL, signed an agreement with São Paul, Brazil-based Rocha Azevedo to serve as its Latin American affiliate. The shop will eventually assume the Marketing Store name. … Account action: Cramer-Krasselt, Chicago, named to handle the $40 million-plus marketing account of Winn-Dixie Stores, Jacksonville, FL. … Mars Advertising, Southfield, MI, named agency of record for the Eastern Region by Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., Montvale, NJ. … Burrell Communications, Chicago, named agency of record for African-American consumers by General Mills, Minneapolis. … Ott Communications, Louisville, KY, named agency of record for the $10 million account of Kyocera Mita Corp., Fairfield, NJ. … Wunderman’s Chicago office awarded assignments from New York City-based Unilever’s Salon Selectives, Thermasilk, and Finesse brands. … Tuxis Promotion Group, Westport, CT, tapped by Wise Snacks, New York City, to provide FSIs and in-store signage for its Cheez Doodles brand. … WonderGroup, Cincinnati, named promo agency of record by ConAgra Foods’ Lunch Makers brand.