Pitch Watch: Vodafone seeks new creative; Kraft Heinz appoints media; Subway announces PR & digital comms
Mumbrella casts an eye over the major media, creative and public relations pitches at play in market.
In today’s wrap up: Vodafone (creative); Kraft Heinz (media); Subway (PR); Elevate Communication (client wins).
Vodafone seeks new creative lead after split with Cummins & Partners
Vodafone has launched the hunt for a new agency after announcing it is ending its relationship with Cummins & Partners.
News of the split comes just two years after Vodafone and Cummins teamed up on the business and sets the scene for the Telco to appoint its fifth creative agency in six years, with three of those agencies declining to re-pitch the business.
Cummins used the win in late 2014 as a foundation for opening its Sydney agency shortly afterwards.
Natasa Zunic, Vodafone’s general manager of brand and communications, said Cummins had played an important role as the company went through a rebuilding phase.
“We would like to thank Cummins & Partners for their tireless work over the past two years in developing our successful network demonstration campaigns,” Zunic said.
“Their understanding of the category and market challenges have made them a great partner through the turnaround of this company.”
Cummins & Partners CEO, Chris Jeffares, said the work to re-establish the brand had been a real focus for the agency.
“Vodafone is a fantastic global brand and we have enjoyed re-establishing their challenger position in an incredibly dynamic industry and successfully re-affirming Vodafone’s network capabilities,” Jeffares said.
“The team has worked hard to create strong brand and customer momentum, and we wish Vodafone every success in the future.”
The company said the decision to part with Cummins opened the doors to reassess its agency needs ahead of its next stage of growth. Earlier this year to company moved its media to GroupM as part of a global alignment.
The telco has had a revolving door of agencies over the past several years, with Host winning the business in 2010 after incumbent Clemenger BBDO declined to pitch for the business. Host was dumped in 2012 for Ogilvy without a pitch as part of a global alignment with WPP.
At the time of the loss Host boss, Anthony Freedman, described Vodafone as a “tough client”. “Vodafone has a reputation for being a tough client and in many ways this is true,” he said.
The business lasted just over two years with Ogilvy before it was again put out to pitch – with Ogilvy also declining to take part. At the time Ogilvy CEO, David Fox, described the decision by Vodafone to review as “disappointing”.
Kraft Heinz announces media account win
Kraft Heinz has appointed Starcom Mediavest as its media agency of record.
The account win involves billings estimated at $14m.
Sue Squillace, national managing director, Mediavest said the agency “could not be happier” to work with Kraft in the new year.
“Its portfolio of brands and collaborative approach is the exact type of partnership we strive for at Mediavest,” Squillace said.
The win comes the same day Starcom lost Mars’ media buying business.
Chris Noland, Publicis Media chief operating officer said the agency was “delighted” to work with Heinz.
“Publicis Media is designed to ensure that our agency brands are equipped to help clients grow in a disrupted and challenging market. We are privileged to work with Heinz that has an incredible history in Australia, having established some of Australia’s most recognised brands,” Noland said.
The latest announcement also follows a series of wins for Mediavest including Ezibuy, AGL Digital, EA Games, National Hearing Care and Foodworks.
Subway appoints PR and digital communications agency for Surf Series
P4 Group has been announced as the PR and digital communications agency for the Subway Surf Series.
The series will launch in January and is the result of a partnership with Surfing Australia and the World Surf League.
The Brisbane based agency has worked on major projects such as the Brisbane Festival, v8 Supercars and Bridge to Brisbane day.
Elevate Communication announces five client wins
Elevate Communication has finished off 2016 with five new clients.
The Brisbane-based agency has added software solution provider MPower MSL, tech start-up Gruntify, Bestjet, career development educator Job Toolbox, and car service site Fixed Price Care Service.
Mel Deacon, managing director of Elevate Communication said the agency’s new wins were a reflection of the agency’s quality of work.
“Over the past twelve months we have worked hard to create an environment that delivers smart and creative work for our clients and the market is responding positively,” Deacon said.
“We have been continually pushing the boundaries of conventional PR and marketing thinking to create longer lasting results that deliver beyond just media coverage.”
topics
cummins & partners
Elevate Communication
KraftHeinz
P4 Group
Starcom Mediavest
Subway
Subway Surf Series
Vodafone
By releasing Cummins & Partners thus allowing them to finally focus on clients that aren’t a venus flytrap of creativity, good ideas, and happiness – Vodafone have for once delivered on their tagline of ‘Power to you’, this is a historic moment.
A huge congratulations to all involved.
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am trying to count the number of creative agencies that Vodafone have had over the past 12 years. I’ve got to 8, but I may have missed one
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Let’s see which agencies decide to try and work with Vodafone – the most dysfunctional client in the past decade.
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Worst client ever. Ev…..errrr
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How I imagine the all-staff announcement at Cummins&Partners went down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_278154&feature=iv&src_vid=np6vAuS0KNs&v=DXpmunmG5ss
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