Immigrant of the year

Hamburgers and cola are the favorite foods of Americans, but these fatty and sugary foods also help German advertising agencies to expand. Scholz & Friends arrived in Switzerland at the end of February with nothing but the Coca-Cola brand Powerade budget in its luggage (see also WochenInterview on page 22). Advertising legend Yvonne Hodel ensured the company's local roots as a member of the Board of Directors. Managing Directors Günther Schneider and Christian Binder named three medium-sized clients as their annual target - so far, however, only Viva Switzerland has joined Coca-Cola in the agency's portfolio. In return, Scholz & Friends gained a second well-known Swiss woman, Diana Strebel, for the Board of Directors. Another German agency is now announcing its arrival in Switzerland at the end of the year: Heye & Partner, Munich, the global lead agency for McDonald's, is reportedly planning to open a branch here in Switzerland. It could probably take over the local account of the hamburger chain from DDB Zurich. Agency head Jürgen Knauss would neither confirm nor deny the move to Switzerland. In any case, Heye has already reserved the appropriate web address. And with ex-Publicis manager Cornelia Harder, an accomplished Swiss advertising expert would also be available. (sm)