OLD NAVY NARROWS $150 MILLION REVIEW

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Gap Inc.'s Old Navy division has furthered narrowed its review, cutting two agencies from contention for its $150 million creative account, an Old Navy spokesman said.

Three agencies continue to the next phase

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of the review: Havas' Euro RSCG MVBMS, New York; WPP Group's J. Walter Thompson, New York; and Interpublic Group of Cos.' Deutsch, Los Angeles, the spokesman, Jonathan Finn said.

Cut from the search were WPP's Berlin Cameron/Red Cell, New York, and Havas' Arnold, Boston.

The three finalists will be briefed on March 22-23, according to executives with knowledge of the review. Mr. Finn would not comment, but said a final decision is expected on in mid-April.

The review began in early February. While Old Navy has in the past hired agencies on a project basis, this is the retailer's first-ever review for a full-time creative agency to work with its in-house creative team.

For the first 11 months of 2003, Old Navy spent $154 million in measured media, according to TNS Media Intelligence/CMR.