Business on the Move, featuring PublicisPoke, Zwift and Channel 4
Another week, another wave of account news, reviews, agency launches, rebrands and acquisitions. Check out our global round-up to see what business is on the move (and why it matters) below, then head over to our Business on the Move hub to read about more market maneuvers.
Over the past seven days, we’ve seen fresh appointments, reviews and acquisitions at PublicisPoke, Zwift and Channel 4
Looking for a new agency partner of your own? Check out The Drum Recommends, where you can search for trusted partners and access expert industry knowledge that could help you make your selection.
If you’ve got a business on the move story for us, send it to businessonthemove@thedrum.com for consideration before next Thursday.
Account moves
Publicis Groupe UK creative agency PublicisPoke has bagged two major account wins, after being appointed as the lead creative agency for Mondelēz sugar-free chewing gum brand Trident for Europe, and as the global below-the-line agency for beer brand Desperados following a competitive pitch.
PizzaExpress has hired Engine Creative as its experience and innovation partner as the restaurant chain kicks off a massive summer of new initiatives for pizza lovers everywhere. Engine Creative won the business following a competitive pitch alongside several digital agencies. There was no previous incumbent on the business.
The British Heart Foundation has appointed PHD as its media planning and buying agency, following a competitive review. The charity has previously worked with PHD on the media for its brand advertising and The Kite Factory on its fundraising. Both were invited to re-pitch alongside WPP’s MediaCom.
HubSpot, the customer relationship management (CRM) platform, has announced that it has named 72andSunny New York as its first global creative agency partner. This announcement follows 72andSunny’s recent United Airlines win announced last month.
Grosvenor Casinos has appointed independent creative agency Isobel for a brand relaunch. Owned by The Rank Group PLC, Grosvenor Casinos is the largest land-based casino operator in the UK with an online offering that they are committed to growing. Isobel will work with the team at Grosvenor to establish a brand positioning and creative platform that encompasses both the venues and online offer.
Alphabet Media – a public relations agency that offers strategic, integrated communications – has recently bagged the PR mandate for Instrucko, which specializes in teaching English, French, Spanish, Hindi, Public Speaking and Creative Writing to children from the age of 3-15 years. The account was won following a multi-agency pitch.
Mergers and acquisitions
Williams Murray Hamm, the Drum Design Grand Prix winner 2020, has joined forces with sister agency Identica to create WMH&I. The new company opened its doors on June 28 2021 and is based at WMH’s longtime home in Dallington Street, London.
Ongoing pitches
Channel 4 has narrowed down its media planning and buying shortlist to three competitors: The7Stars, Zenith and 39-year incumbents OMD UK. The pitch marks only the second time in the broadcaster’s history that it has reviewed the business, and comes ahead of the UK government’s consultation on its future.
Kingfisher, owner of B&Q and Screwfix, has nailed down a review of its media planning and buying across Europe. The incumbent is WPP’s Wavemaker, though Kingfisher always works with Dentsu’s Merkle, as well as Uncommon Creative Studios, which has handled B&Q’s creative since 2019.
Comparethemarket has called a pitch of its media planning and buying in the UK, putting the pressure on incumbents WPP’s Wavemaker. The review will not affect Comparethemarket’s other agencies, including VCCP on advertising and Havas Helia on CRM.
Zwift, the at-home fitness software brand, is looking for a new global media agency as at-home fitness continues to trend worldwide. Zwift has invited four agencies – Dentsu’s Carat, Omnicom’s PHD, WPP’s Wavemaker and Publicis Groupe’s Zenith – to participate in the pitch.