Account round up: Guardian appoints Blue Rubicon, Santander reappoints WCRS and Tiffany's account under review
Accounts Under review
Jewellery brand Tiffany's account is under review
London Metropolitan University has unveiled a tender, featuring two lots, for advertising creative and media buying. The University aims to appoint a supplier for a contract term of three years, with the mutual option to extend the contract for two further one-year periods. The contract is priced at between £3.55m and £3.9m, with agencies invited to tender for one or both lots.
The General Dental Council has issued two tender notices for UX design agencies. The contracts are worth £20,000-£30,000 and £40,000-£50,000, and the GDC is seeking agencies to develop and design its secure online application process for its applicant base.The contract is for a period of three months, beginning on 2 December and ending on 31 March.
HTC is conducting a global PR review for markets including US and Asia, after HTC's head of global public relations, Lorain Wong, resigned in October.
Publicis Groupe has issued a statement confirming that it is in discussions with rivals M&C Saatchi in relation to the purchase of Walker Media.
The British Army is searching for a PR agency to supplement the recruitment advertising undertaken by JWT.
Ooredoo telecoms is seeking a global advertising agency operating out of London.
Tiffany’s jewellers is currently reviewing its advertising business and is set to run a competitive tender.
Account Wins
Blue Cross, the animal charity, has announced the appointment of M&C Saatchi to cover advertising, content, CRM, social media, consumer PR and media planning and buying following a competitive pitch.
Electronics company Panasonic has tasked We Are Social with the creation of a number of social media campaigns that will include product launch and above-the-line support.
Visit Wales has hired iCrossing to manage its digital marketing account for the next three years. The agency was appointed following a competitive 11-way pitch, with the account to cover search, social and paid media.
The AA has awarded VCCP its £16m advertising account, following a competitive three-way pitch that was called earlier this year. The agency has been tasked with restating the AA’s credentials in roadside and Home emergency through an integrated campaign. VCCP also handles the account for Saga, a sister company of AA under the Acromas Holding umbrella.
Premier Foods has announced the appointment of Carat to handle its media business, effective from January 2014. Carat will handle the media planning for the entire Premier Foods portfolio, including Ambrosia, Batchelors, Bisto, Hovis, Lloyd Grossman, Mr. Kipling, Oxo and Sharwood’s.
Carmex has appointed Whynot! to create a word of mouth and socially-led campaign to promote the brand’s classic lip balm pots.
Breakthrough Breast Cancer has appointed Steel London as its retained digital agency following the launch of a new 10-year strategy for the charity. Steel won the account after a competitive pitch and has first been tasked with developing the charity’s website and health information.
All Leisure Group has announced the appointment of Arena to its £3m media and planning account, covering four of its six brands, following a pitch process. The remit for newly appointed Arena will include media planning and buying for two escorted tours brands: Travelsphere and Just You, plus two cruise brands: Swan Hellenic and Voyages of Discovery.
Razor has announced that it has secured the Australian arm of Logitech, USA tourism brand, Brand USA and the Sydney Theatre Company as clients.
St George’s University, the independent education provider specialising in medicine and healthcare, has announced the appointment of design agency 999 to overhaul its digital communications following a successful four way pitch.
Online dating website Guardian Soulmates has appointed Blue Rubicon to drive a brand campaign for its 10th online anniversary next year. The appointment followed a competitive pitch and Blue Rubicon has been tasked with a 12-month creative brand-building campaign aimed at both existing and new users.
Ribena has handed Grey London responsibility for marketing the Ribena brand globally, except for the UK and Ireland, the first time Ribena has appointed one agency to do global work.
Coca-Cola has appointed Cheil UK in a multi-channel brief to evolve its ‘Happiness’ proposition across multiple platforms. A campaign is expected to launch in early 2014.
More Th>n has appointed Vizeum to handle its media planning and buying account, believed to be worth around £13m, following a review earlier this year.
Weetabix has appointed Cake as its retained social media agency, as the brand looks to be the top breakfast cereal in the UK. Cake will be expected to create an online social strategy, as well as handling the social media channels for Weetabix and Alpen.
Havas Worldwide has lost the UK account of Santander, valued at £27 million, and reappointed WCRS.
Manning Gottlieb OMD has been appointed by the TSB as its media planning and buying agency. The account is valued at £30 million.
Apollo tyres has appointed Mindshare as its global media agency following a competitive pitch.
MBA has been appointed by telecoms company O2 to run its digital business account.
OMD has been appointed by Carlsberg after a competitive pitch to its media buying account, worth £20 million.