– Helene Curtis Ltd. of Montreal has awarded its entire creative assignment to ddb Needham of Toronto. The business was previously with Bozell Palmer Bonner. Media buying for the $11-million account stays with Publicite mbs of Montreal.

– Johnson & Johnson of Montreal has chosen two Toronto companies, TAXI Advertising & Design and NextMedia, to handle repositioning of one of its brands. taxi will handle creative and NextMedia the media portion of a tv and print campaign to start in April.

– Beamscope Toys has announced that Media Experts of Montreal will handle media buying for the new division of Toronto distributor of video entertainment products, computer software and home office products, Beamscope Canada.

– Snif Security has hired Ullrich Schade and Associates of Vancouver to handle all components of the marketing campaign for the spring launch of its home and office security system.

– Gould Shawmut Company, a division of Gould Electronics (Canada), has named Warne Inc./Marketing & Communications of Toronto as the agency for its electric circuit protection products (fuses and related products).

– afm Hospitality has appointed Bozell Palmer Bonner to handle all advertising and promotions for its 35 Howard Johnson Hotels, Lodges and Inns in Canada. The business was previously with Discrescie & Associates of Toronto.

– sabre Travel Information Network has picked Bensimon Byrne of Toronto as its Canadian creative agency for marketing efforts directed to the travel trade. Media Buying Services of Montreal will handle planning and buying. sabre, a subsidiary of American Airlines’ parent amr Corp., is headquartered in Ft. Worth, Texas.