AOL Germany, which for the past year has been using Boris Becker and his wife, Barbara Feltus Becker, in a series of TV ads, is wondering what to "do now that" the two are divorcing, according to Christina White of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. AOL Germany says that for now it will "continue its contract" with Becker, but the company "can't say how long it might take until the next ads appear." AOL Germany CEO Uwe Heddendorp "credits the campaign" featuring Becker with "increasing AOL's name recognition" from 77% to 89% over the past year. Meanwhile, the "same question [is] facing" Coca-Cola, as the company filmed "as-yet unaired" TV spots featuring Becker and Feltus. Meanwhile, White reported that AOL and Coca-Cola are "probably in more of a bind" than Becker, who is "trying to build his company Boris Becker Marketing into a global sports marketing group and has branched onto the Internet as co-owner" of Sportgate. Becker will "probably be able to continue to capitalize on his broad popularity and media image despite the tabloid headlines that chronicled the separation." Lowe & Partners Chair Christopher Radzyminski said Becker is "very genuine and approachable. ... People look at him and think that [divorce] could happen to anyone" (WALL ST JOURNAL, 12/29).
