U.S. ad spending will rise only two percent in 2008 as compared to the 3.7 percent gain predicted in December '07. That's the revised forecast from Magna Global's Robert Coen, senior VP/director of forecasting, when looking ahead to all of '08 when stacked up against the industry's performance in '07. The revision is particularly dismaying in that '08 is a Summer Olympics and a presidential election year, which normally translates into a major jump in ad spending. However, a seriously weakened economy triggered by the escalating cost of fuel and food, and the home mortgage crisis have put a major damper on prospects for '08….BBDO Atlanta has brought three key artisans on board: Chuck Meehan as senior creative director, Dana Xavier as director of digital operations and Vegard Soehus as research director. Additionally, design director Paul Huggett has been promoted to senior VP and Kyle Lewis has been upped from senior VP/creative director to exec creative director. Meehan comes over from GSD&M, Austin, Texas. Xavier had been at Atlanta agency 22 Squared. And Soehus' previously worked as a managing consultant at the Zyman Group and spent 10 years at The Coca-Cola Company where he helped to lead strategic planning and marketing science efforts across 35-plus countries in Europe and Asia….
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More