Advertising Roundup: GM Review Momentum Gains, Home Depot Keeps Richards, Knorr Cans JWT, More ...

GM headed for agency consolidation – GM will focus on only four of its eight brands, according to its plan filed with Congress last week to qualify for proposed federal loans. The client is likely to require fewer agency resources and could consider consolidating its accounts at a single holding company, some auto experts speculated. The company “would do that it in a minute if it would save them a bunch of money,” a former GM executive said. The GM review was previously noted on BNET, Nov. 21. [Sources: Ad Age, BNET]

Home Depot has retained The Richards Group – The Dallas shop keeps creative duties on the $580 million ad account after a review, the client has confirmed. Sources identified the other finalists as WPP Group’s JWT in New York, Omnicom Group’s GSD&M Idea City in Austin, Texas and Interpublic Group’s Hill, Holliday in Boston. BNET suggested the business would go to a Southern shop on Dec. 2. [Sources: Adweek, BNET]

Y&R Hong Kong CEO resigns – Benny Hui, CEO of Y&R Hong Kong is departing the agency tomorrow after two-and-a-half years in the role. Tom Kao, Y&R’s Greater China chairman said: “We will not replace Hui for the time being, but will relook at the resources and structure of our HK operation before we make the next move.” [Source: Brand Republic]

JWT loses Knorr – Unilever is to shift four regional advertising accounts, including South East Asia and Greater China, worth £100m for the Knorr brand from WPP’s JWT to Interpublic-owned Lowe. The move does not affect DDB Worldwide, which holds the Knorr account in North America and Africa, Middle East and Turkey. The move is a blow for WPP Group which has lost out to rival holding company Interpublic Group. [Source: Brand Republic]

Ogilvy won’t handle Wachovia – Wachovia in September handed its marketing account to a WPP Group team led by Ogilvy. But the bank then merged with Wells Fargo. Wachovia in the interim “paused the finalization” of its contract with Ogilvy. Now the shop has been bypassed in favor of Omnicom Group’s DDB. [Source: Ad Age]

Saatchi & Saatchi kills Glow Worm – Saatchi & Saatchi Consumer Health + Wellness is absorbing its spin-off Glow Worm in a “proactive” effort amid slowing consumer advertising spend. Jim Joseph, managing director of Saatchi & Saatchi Consumer Health + Wellness, said the move was not in response to any loss of business. But last month, TNS Media Intelligence released data showing a 6.3% drop in consumer drug advertising. The agency, launched in the summer of 2006, boasted a staff of around 20 servicing two big accounts – Takeda’s IBS drug Amitiza and Boehringer Ingelheim’s antiretroviral Viramune. [Source: MM&M]

HP Europe in Review – Hewlett-Packard has called a pan-European review of its £30m advertising for its consumer products division, currently held by McCann Erickson. The agency is expected to pitch against HP roster networks BBDO and Publicis Groupe. [Source: Marketing Week]

Yum! Brands eyes roster shops for new Pizza Hut biz – Yum! Brands, the owner of Pizza Hut, is talking to its roster agencies about a new pizza delivery concept that is being trialled in the UK and Ireland. The fast food company is talking to it roster agencies about developing a strategy for the new delivery system, known as PHD, and is keen to go head to head with Domino’s Pizza in the UK. In the UK, Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO handles Pizza Hut’s advertising, but Yum! works internationally with a number of network agencies, including DraftFCB and Ogilvy & Mather. [Source: Marketing Week]