After a six-month search, UPS selected Ogilvy as its global communications agency, handling advertising, relationship marketing and digital duties. Work on the account begins immediately. Ogilvy's sister company Maxus is handling media placements for UPS.

Direct marketing services provider Harte-Hanks has opened a US office for business-to-business technology subsidiary agency Mason Zimbler. The Austin, TX office adds program strategy, creative development and campaign execution and management offerings to the agency's US footprint. Harte-Hanks acquired UK-based Mason Zimbler in February 2008 because of its digital offerings, according to the agency.

Integrated marketing agency Think 360 is working with pharmaceutical company Purdue Products on an effort promoting the Colace line of laxative products to a younger audience. The "Best Seats in the House" campaign, which runs through November 6, is a multichannel sweepstakes that consumers can enter to win Ticketmaster gift cards.

Holding company MDC Partners has formed a group to improve its agencies' data and analytics capabilities. The company announced the creation of its Consumer Insights Group on October 26. The holding company's agency roster includes Crispin Porter & Bogusky, Fletcher Martin and Source Marketing.

Shelly Lazarus, chairwoman of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, became the latest industry luminary to be inducted into the Direct Marketing Association's Hall of Fame. Lazarus was honored by the association on October 20 at its annual conference in San Diego. It is the second time the group has honored Lazarus. DMA named her Woman of the Year in 2002.

Haggin Marketing combined its four divisions into one unit and rebranded itself SolutionSet on October 19. The company merged its original direct and retail marketing group with digital marketing and technology, database marketing and franchise and local marketing units it picked up via acquisition over the past three years.

In response to increasing advertiser focus on ROI, Ogilivy & Mather and MarketShare Partners are teaming up to offer marketing effectiveness tools measuring results and predicting optimal media spend across digital, direct, TV, radio and marketing channels.

Multichannel apparel retailer Dickies has named Omnicom Group's Goodby, Silverstein & Partners its first agency of record after 87 years in business.

IT products and services direct seller CDW has named Ogilvy & Mather its advertising agency of record. The agency is responsible for traditional advertising, direct marketing and digital. Ogilvy & Mather, Chicago, is the lead agency on the account.

Ad network Q Interactive has acquired permission-based marketing firm Vente from Experian. The deal, signed October 1, is Q Interactive's second acquisition in three months. It bought e-mail firm Postmaster Direct in July. Matt Wise, president and CEO of Q Interactive, would not disclose financial terms of the Vente deal but said it happened "very quickly" and that the companies opened dialogue two months ago.