Draft FCB no longer on top as Wal-Mart walks

Bloomberg reports Wal-Mart is dropping Interpublic Group of Cos.' Draft FCB, its new advertising agency. The account will reopen its review for its $570 million advertising account.

The decision to bar Draft "is the result of new information we have obtained over the past few weeks," spokeswoman Mona Williams said in an interview today.

Wal-Mart in October selected Draft and Aegis Group Plc's Carat USA after a five-month review for a campaign slated to debut next year. Draft won't be eligible for the review while Carat will, Williams said.

Wal-Mart said Dec. 5 that Julie Roehm, the head of advertising who led the selection of the new agency, had left the company. Neither Roehm nor Wal-Mart would say then whether she resigned or was fired.

Or was it that horrible lion ad going around the adworld? ;)

Edit: Two related adscam posts Lewis Lazare on Wal-Mart and Julie Roehm! and Hey Howard... Send Julies check to that villa you bought her in Florida! The Wal-Mart address doesn't work any more!