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The COI has asked EURO RSCG Wnek Gosper, Leagas Shafron Davis Ayer and D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles to pitch for a pilot publicity campaign to increase the number of volunteers in the community and promote voluntary activity. The budget for the campaign is 600,000.

The Department of Trade & Industry is refusing to reveal the scope of its inquiry into share dealings in Cordiant. The inquiry, which began in June, is understood to have been triggered by a Stock Exchange investigation, following the departure of Maurice Saatchi in January.

Guinness Draught Bitter is reviewing its account, held by Ogilvy & Mather. O&M and EURO RSCG Wnek Gosper are pitching for the business.

Scottish Equitable is understood to have drawn up a shortlist consisting of M&C Saatchi and WCRS for its first advertising campaign.

Leo Burnett Europe/Middle East/Africa is expanding its network operations by adding 11 new agencies through a mixture of affiliate and representative deals.

Butler Lutos Sutton Wilkinson is behind a 1m campaign for a new knife from Richardson Sheffield, which never gets blunt. The national press ads will run from this week.

Walsh Trott Chick Smith has appointed its first new business manager, Elly McDonald, who previously worked on the IPA’s advertising effectiveness initiative.

Bozell Worldwide is repositioning itself as a through-the-line agency with a new UK-based company, Bozell Marketing Services (BMS). BMS will be based in London but will be working and pitching for clients on a worldwide basis. The company, described as a full-service, below-the-line agency will be headed by Mike Berry.

Aspen Communications has announced pre-tax profits of 1.63m for the first six months of this year. This is an increase of 61 per cent on the same period last year. Its earnings per share grew to 7.6p from 4.8p, an increase of 58 per cent over the same period.

David McIntosh, managing director of The Brahm Agency, has quit. He has been with the agency since 1986 and was appointed as md four years ago. Group chairman and founding partner Mike Baxandall will take on the role temporarily.