Advertising Roundup: Sprite Pitch Narrows; Mediaedge Wins Sony; Layoffs at Omnicom in UK; More ...

(MoneyWatch)  Sprite pitch down to two -- Wieden & Kennedy and Bartle Bogle Hegarty are facing off in a pitch for marketing duties on Coca-Cola's Sprite brand, according to executives close to the matter. [Source: Ad Age]

Mediaedge wins Sony LatAm -- WPP Group's Mediaedge:cia has been awarded planning and buying for Sony Electronics Latin America after a six-month review, the client has confirmed. Estimated ad spending is $150 million, per sources. [Source: Adweek]

James Brady dies -- James Brady, longtime Ad Age columnist and author of "Parade" magazine's celebrity profile column "In Step With," died yesterday at his home in Manhattan. He was 80. [Source: Ad Age]

WPP buys into web analyst firm -- WPP has formed a strategic alliance with Omniture Inc, a Web-analytics firm based in Orem, Utah. WPP is set to make a $25 million investment in Omniture common stock over the long term, according to a person familiar with the matter, as it seeks to grab some of the dollars directed to measuring advertising [Source: WSJ]

26 Omnicom layoffs in the UK -- The Omnicom-owned Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO group, DDB London, and TBWA have made a number of redundancies in the UK. It is understood that 11 people from TBWA, 16 across DDB London's group, and an undisclosed number within the AMV group are currently undergoing a consultation period. [Source: Brand Republic]

Ogilvy names chief talent officer -- Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide has named Marie-Claire Barker, who has worked at the agency since 2002, as its Chief Talent Officer. She is replacing George Rose who is leaving Ogilvy after two years for an opportunity on the West Coast that will be announced shortly. [Source: AgencySpy]

Morgan Stanley downgrades WPP, Havas and Aegis. [Source: Forbes wire report]

New management at Zenith -- Publicis Groupe's Zenith Optimedia has confirmed a management shakeup within its North American research and analysis division, known as the Strategic Resources Group. Out is Bruce Goerlich, who had been president of the group, replaced by Tom Love, who ran Strategic Resources West and now becomes evp of the entire group, reporting to ZO North American CEO Tim Jones. [Source: Adweek]