Pitch Watch: BWM lands first Toyota work while Frucor is pitch that ruined Christmas
Mumbrella casts an eye over the major media, creative and public relations pitches at play in market.
In today’s wrap up: Toyota moves Rav4 from Saatchis (account win), Frucor pitches media (new pitch).
Toyota brings in BWM Dentsu for first work
Toyota is understood to have reworked its Australian roster, giving Japanese aligned agency BWM Dentsu a brand for the first time with Rav4 being moved from Saatchi & Saatchi to the recently-acquired creative agency.
Dentsu already has an Australian alignment through its relationship with Oddfellows which handles advertising for its extensive dealer network.
Mumbrella understands that BWM was able to find its way onto the Toyota brand roster after it had ended relationships with former ATECO brands Alfa Romeo and Citroen as a result of Australian distribution realignments.
It is believed that the agency will continue to work with luxury sports car brand Maserati.
While BWM is celebrating the winning work on the Rav4 account, it is understood Dentus lost both the Corolla and Fortuna brands to Saatchi & Saatchi earlier in the year, although there was no publicity on the movement of either brand.
BWM’s win of the Rav4 business from Saatchi & Saatchi also raises questions about the future of the manufacturer’s relationship with Publicis Mojo.
While the agency has been a mainstay on the Toyota roster for years, it has not done brand work for Toyota for about two years and has only handled projects.
A spokesperson for Toyota said the company did not comment on its agency roster relationships.
BWM, Publicis Mojo did not return Mumbrella’s calls at the time of publication while Saatchi referred inquiries to Toyota.
Frucor pitches media
The company behind V, Rockstar and Lucozade energy drinks Frucor is understood to be pitching its media, Mumbrella can reveal.
The move puts Omnicom incumbent M2M on alert, with a number of agencies thought to be on the shortlist.
Some agencies have questioned the timing of the $15m media pitch, which comes just days before Christmas, but it is understood any work will not be due till the new year.
All agencies contacted declined to comment, with pitch consultancy Enth Degree are rumoured to be involved in the process.
Comment has been sought from the client.
Simon Canning and Nic Christensen
Fortuner*
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Isn’t the bigger story the fact that Dentsu BWM lost Corolla and Fortuner? How did we all miss that?
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Dentus
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