HM Communications retains $10.5m Coty cosmetics media account
Independent media agency HM Communication Group has managed to again fight off its global multinational competitors to retain the $10.5m Coty cosmetics media account.
Mumbrella first revealed the global pitch back in April with HM Communications, formerly Hyland Media, facing off against a shortlist of global players vying for the account thought to have included Omnicom, Havas and ZenithOptimedia.
Gavin Blackburn, Coty Australia Managing Director commented in a statement this morning: “Coty Australia and Hyland Media have enjoyed a unique partnership over more than 14 years.
“This journey together has seen Coty Australia grow from $15m annual turnover to a business approaching $200m, delivering performance outcomes that are recognised as amongst the best in the Coty world.”
News of the local decision comes as ZenithOptimedia won the account in other overseas markets including US, UK, Ireland and Canada. Among the 16 different markets under review Australia is understood to have been separate from other arrangements.
Ad Age has previously reported that the cosmetics company was asking all agencies in the pitch to agree to 150-day lags in payment.
Coty brands include Rimmel, Calvin Klein Fragrances, Chloe, Guess and Marc Jacobs.
Virginia Hyland, principal and founder of HM Communication Group said in a statement: “We are thrilled to be able to continue working with COTY and their impressive marketing team. They are willing to think outside the square and were open to us challenging the status quo throughout the pitch process. We are looking forward to continuing our long partnership with Gavin, and all of the COTY team”.
This is not the first time that HM Communication Group has had to defend the media buying for the luxury brand coming through a six month media pitch that involved OMD, Starcom and MPG in 2010.
According to Nielsen, Coty Australia had an estimated media spend of $10.5m in the 12 months to March.
Nic Christensen
