DETROIT, Tuesday: WPP’s NZ agencies JWT and VMLY&R are winding up their Ford campaigns as they prepare for the official switchover to BBDO NZ agencies in just three weeks, on Wednesday 1 November.

DDB has launched a new Lifeline fundraising campaign, The 72 Club, which aims to flip the infamous ’27 Club’ on its head. The 27 Club’ are young musicians whose lives were tragically cut short. “From that inspiration,” says DDB ceo Justin Mowday, “The 72 Club was created to inspire all Kiwis to go on to live to 72 and beyond.”

HONG KONG, Today: The deadline for the New Zealand-Australia division of the Campaign Asia-Pacific Agency of the Year Awards closes at 6pm today (Tuesday).

Pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline has awarded its US$1.7 billion media business to Publicis Media, following a competitive review, according to “people with knowledge of the matter”, reported in Campaign Asia. Publicis Media is said to have created a dedicated agency unit for the account.

It’s not often you get to use a fancy word like objet in a heading – but we did manage it in a story in M+AD Friday about Aussie adman Ralph van Dijk, headed The objets I love.

Trade publication B&T which covers the Australian media, marketing and advertising industry is expanding their latest breakfast event series to include an event in Auckland.

LONDON, Friday: New Zealand entries have collected five Production, Post-Production, and Music Video shortlist places at the London International Awards. Sweetshop was involved in three of these, DDB (2), Assembly and Ogilvy (one apiece).

Clemenger BBDO and Biosecurity 2025 have launched Ko Tātou This Is Us, the first nationwide campaign designed to help New Zealanders understand and care about biosecurity.

AUCKLAND, Today: NZME has named three executives to join their senior Auckland commercial team. A number of key roles have been confirmed, with each person chosen for their ability to unearth and recognise opportunities for clients.