…No one is really surprised that Phillip Crawley, publisher and CEO of The Globe and Mail, brought another Brit into the fold as editor of the national daily. The feeling is Crawley had to do something because the National Post is proving to be a ‘significant sucking wound’ on the Globe’s ad revenues.

Unfortunately for Crawley, while Richard Addis’ Fleet Street experience impresses some, to others, it’s nothing to crow about. Says one interested observer: ‘I’ve been in London and read the newspapers… Yuck!’

…Toronto consultancy Zig has teamed up with U.S. creative powerhouse Wieden & Kennedy to try to win the Molson Breweries account. Andy Macaulay, one of the three Zig principals, says it’s not true, although the firm is flattered to be linked with W&K… even if only as the result of a rumour.

… Zig has snubbed a chance to compete in the Ontario Hydro review, a chunk of business said to be worth at least $4 million. Apparently, the agency had made the shortlist and was scheduled to pitch – along with MacLaren McCann, Brandworks, and Vickers & Benson – but pulled out mysteriously at the eleventh hour.

Zig founder Andy Macaulay would only say that he has held discussions with the people at Hydro. However, Norm Simon, a consultant involved with the review, says Zig had been asked to participate, and declined.

…TD Bank is in the process of rethinking its retail banking strategy. Sources say the bank has hired a U.S. consultant to help it come up with new ways to leverage its line of retail branches in the wake of the federal government’s kibosh of its merger plans with CIBC last year. Meanwhile, both the CIBC and Royal Bank are actively looking for ways to better market their broad range of products through their respective branch networks. TD is also said to be working on a new branding campaign – not with TBWA/Chiat Day, its lead agency, but with a smaller Toronto shop.

…A Guelph, Ont.-based microbrewery known by the surname of its high-profile president and founder will be talking to some new agencies later this summer.

…Labatt is getting ready to make a major announcement with an unlikely new business partner: Rogers Cantel AT&T. The two companies have apparently come together to develop a new promotional product.

With files from John Gray and Sinclair Stewart.