Intel narrows agency search to three digital shops

Intel has selected three digital agencies to pitch for the b-to-b portion of its creative advertising business. Interpublic Group's MRM Worldwide, Publicis Groupe-owned Razorfish and Omnicom Group's Tribal DDB are competing for the business, said David Dickstein, media relations manager at Intel.

He added that Venables Bell & Partners, which has managed Intel's creative business for the “Sponsors of Tomorrow” campaign, launched in February 2009, declined to participate.

Venables will still handle creative duties for Intel's “Sponsors of Tomorrow” effort, Dickstein said.

Intel, which distributed an RFP for the work in August, expects to complete the selection process by February 2011, when it plans to launch the b-to-b campaign.

“Intel will receive the three agencies' response presentations next month, which will help shape what we would like to do with b-to-b,” said Dickstein.

A Venables representative declined to comment on the selection process, which was first reported by Advertising Age.