New Balance Hires BBDO New York As New Global Ad Agency

New Balance has hired BBDO, N.Y., as its new global creative agency. BBDO will lead a group of agencies that includes Atmosphere BBDO (digital marketing), BBDO Design Works (design) and PHD (media buying and planning) (New Balance). In Boston, Donna Goodison reports the Boston-based shoemaker hired BBDO "to develop a new branding campaign." The other finalists were Boston-based Arnold Worldwide, N.Y.-based BBH and Chicago firms Cramer-Kasselt and Element 79. Boathouse Media, New Balance's agency since '04, declined to participate in the review, which followed April's hiring of CEO Robert DeMartini (BOSTON HERALD, 10/18).