New Balance picks BBDO

New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc. said today it has selected BBDO New York as its global creative advertising agency of record.

Headquartered in Boston, New Balance is a manufacturer of performance footwear and apparel with worldwide sales of $1.55 billion in 2006.

Annual billings for the New Balance's advertising account were not disclosed.

BBDO New York was selected after an ad agency review, New Balance said.

BBDO New York will lead a roster of agencies that works on New Balance's marketing, and the roster includes Atmosphere BBDO, which specializes in digital marketing, DesignWorks at BBDO, and PHD, which specializes in media buying, New Balance said.

Consumers may be familiar with recent BBDO New York ads for the zero-calorie soft drink Diet Pepsi Max, which has the theme of "Wake up people."

BBDO New York is part of BBDO Worldwide, which is owned by Omnicom Group Inc., a New York company that owns many ad agencies, public relations firms, and marketing agencies.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)