MARKETING

British Airways Gives Account to New Saatchi: The airline awarded its prestigious advertising account to the new agency of Maurice Saatchi, giving him a major victory over his old company, which booted him out as chairman last year. Shortly after Saatchi cut all ties to Saatchi & Saatchi Group, British Airways put the old Saatchi company on notice that it was canceling its advertising account, worth about $96 million a year in billings. British Airways then allowed both the new Saatchi agency and the old Saatchi agency to pitch for the job, along with two other rivals. British Airways Chairman Sir Colin Marshall has close ties to Maurice Saatchi, known as the creative mind behind the advertising team that handled the airline’s account for years.