Hill & Knowlton raises the bar on agency accountability by offering its clients results-based contracts, based on measurements such as stock performance, brand recognition and product sales
increases. The agency also unveils an "on time, on budget" guarantee, promising to reduce its fee by 15% for late or over-budget work.
Coca-Cola settles a racial discrimination lawsuit brought by 2,000 current and former black employees and averts a class action suit. Although the company established a diversity council last
month, and will likely alter its diversity policies in light of the settlement, one former Coke manager vows to continue boycott efforts, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Edelman acquires the Swedish firm Infokraft Publishing AB...The Answer Group, a Cincinnati market research firm specializing in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, becomes a member of
Wirthlin Worldwide.
Ogilvy promotes Paul Hicks to managing director of its New York office, and moves Robert Shimmin to fill Hicks' former shoes as global director of its corporate practice. Peter Verhille replaces
Shimmin as managing director of Ogilvy PR/Brussels... Erin Patton, who was most recently director of corporate communications for Nike's Jordan brand, rejoins Edelman as senior VP/director of diversity
solutions...Kathleen Kenney is named partner in the high-tech firm PepperCom.
