It was a surprise that the decision actually involved the entire creative account.

The creative account had been at various agencies, while offices of McCann-Erickson had handled most media buying.

Braun, the maker of personal care products and appliances, consolidated its global creative account at the Lowe Group in London, without a review.

Sprint Nextel has named three agencies - for now - to compete for its creative account in a review that began in early January.

The creative account has been divided between two agencies.

Bates was also the agency which had handled the national creative account for Hyundai.

For the second time in 14 months, the Subway sandwich chain has parted ways with an agency handling its creative account.

Midas Inc. has narrowed a review for its American creative and strategic account, with billings estimated at $60 million, to four agencies from nine.

Deutsch, part of the Interpublic Group of Companies, was awarded the creative account in 1993.

The company has invited eight agencies in New York to compete for the creative account, Ms. Keating said, though she declined to identify them.