Updated: WPP exits Coles pitch due to conflict, Accenture Interactive invited at group level
WPP has been asked to withdraw from the Coles pitch, as the retail giant continues its hunt for a bespoke agency model. It has now invited Accenture Interactive to pitch, Mumbrella can reveal.
This means that the list is back to three, with Omnicom and Publicis Groupe still in the running for one of Australia’s largest accounts, combining media, strategic and creative.
WPP out, Accenture Interactive in
This playing out publicly the way it has (with the integrated pitch, in the past with tbwa being appointed, ddb, big red being moved on, marketing staff entering personal awards) is embarrassing for a business who never used to conduct marketing business like this.
Agree – this is an uncouth and seemingly unwieldy approach to finding a marketing partner.
I think you’ll find the CMO’s previous career highlight was working with David Droga at Droga5 who is now also part of the Accenture Interactive.
How is it the fault of Coles that it’s playing out publicly? It seems like they are responding to it being leaked to media rather than releasing statements proactively?