Business on the move: Asda, Virgin Holidays, Freeview and more
Asda handed its £95m media and creative accounts to Publicis Groupe in a double coup that saw Blue 449, which is part of ZenithOptimedia, take on Asda's media account and Saatchi & Saatchi London take the Asda creative account.
Publicis Groupe won both media and creative duties for Asda without a pitch. Blue 449 replaces Dentsu Aegis Group's Carat, which held the business for more than two decades.Saatchi & Saatchi London takes over from VCCP after three years.
Virgin Holidays has named Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO as its advertising and communications agency. AMV replaces M&C Saatchi who left the account at the beginning of the year.
AMV beat Droga5 London in the final round after seeing off Lucky Generals and Adam & Eve/DDB earlier. The account is worth $5m.
Freeview has appointed Anomaly to lead its advertising account following a review of its agency roster. Anomaly will help Freeview make its new Play Box, which offers both catch-up and on-demand television.
The decision comes after incumbent Leo Burnett decided not to repitch for the account, ending a five-year relationship with the digital TV service.
VisitScotland, the national tourism organisation for Scotland, has appointed Jago Communications as its PR agency for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland following a competitive pitch process.
Jago Communications will work with the VisitScotland team on a programme of consumer PR activities throughout 2016 to make Scotland a ‘must-visit, must return destination’ for Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland visitors.
uSwitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service, has appointed Brands2Life to lead its energy PR brief.
Brands2Life’s integrated communications strategy is designed to differentiate uSwitch.com in a crowded market, to encourage more people to switch their energy suppliers.
Pride in London, the UK LGBT organisation, has appointed its first ever ad agency to promote its 2016 festival. WCRS won the project without pitching.
WCRS has been tasked with creating an integrated campaign to promote Pride in London’s ongoing fight for LGBT+ equality and its upcoming events.
MyCarNeedsA.com, online car servicing and repair portal, has appointed Arena Media to manage its media planning and buying, replacing MediaCom. The agency won the multi-million media account without a pitch and will begin work immediately.
Arena Media will be responsible for planning and buying media for MyCarNeedsA.com as the company is looking to significantly scale up its business this year after completing new rounds of funding.
National Accident Helpline has appointed The Corner as its creative agency after a competitive pitch against MBA and The Gate, the incumbent agency.
The personal injury advice service has tasked The Corner with launching a new brand platform and a broader communications and media strategy. The Corner will work alongside NAH’s media agency, Carat Manchester.