Gateway, San Diego, Calif., is believed to be in negotiations with Publicis Groupe's Fallon, Minneapolis and New York, for its estimated $250 million ad account, executives familiar with the matter said. The computer marketer fired Interpublic Group of Cos.' McCann-Erickson Worldwide, New York, on Feb. 7 after a three-year tenure on the account. David Lubars, Fallon's president-exec creative director, worked on Apple at BBDO Worldwide's Los Angeles office.
Another finalist in the review was Siltanen/Keehn, El Segundo, Calif., whose founders worked on Apple Computer's "Think Different" campaign while at TBWA/Chiat/Day, Playa del Rey, Calif. Other contenders included DiMassimo Brand Advertising, New York.
A Gateway spokesman had no immediate comment on the review process or the timing of a decision. Fallon executives also declined to comment.
Copyright February 2001, Crain Communications Inc.
