Pitch Watch: New agencies for iNova, Ubank, Heineken and VisitCanberra; Optus goes quiet
Mumbrella casts an eye over the major media, creative and public relations pitches at play in market.
In this wrap up the latest on: iNova (media account win) and Ubank (media account win), Heineken (PR account win), VisitCanberra (creative account win).
iNova moves media account from Initiative to Vizeum
Major pharmaceuticals firm iNova has appointed Denstu Aegis agency Vizeum, Mumbrella can reveal.
Nick Behr, Managing Director of Vizeum Sydney said, “We are thrilled to have been appointed to manage iNova’s media business in Australia. iNova distributes some of Australia’s best known and most trusted pharmaceutical brands.
We are excited to be partnering with them to deliver clever innovation and strategic solutions to drive their business forward in an increasingly competitive category.”
The decision sees iNova move from Initiative after a competitive pitch involving Havas, Vizeum and Atomic 212.
The account is thought to be worth $8m in media billings.
iNova owns a broad range of prescription medicines, consumer healthcare products including: Duro-Tuss, Difflam, Nyal, Invisible Zinc, Hiprex® and DermaVeen.
Ubank moves media from Mindshare to Bohemia
UBank has shifted its media buying from GroupM agency Mindshare to Bohemia .
Brett Dawson, managing partner at Bohemia said: “We are extremely pumped by this appointment and the opportunity to work with such a progressive challenger in such a dynamic category.”
Jo Kelly, head of brand, marketing and PR at UBank added: “We’re excited to be working with a disruptive agency like Bohemia to help us tell the UBank story in a unique way, across constantly evolving channel mix.”
The appointment follows other recent wins by Bohemia including: news.com.au, Caltex and Ubet.
Heineken appoints Red Agency to PR account
Major beer brand Heineken has appointed Red Agency following a competitive pitch as its public relations agency.
“We have big plans and ambitions for 2016 and we’re delighted to bring the stand-out Red Agency team on board as a new partner to help us take Heineken to the next level as we continue to evolve our marketing activity,” said Alessandro Manunta, Heineken marketing manager.
The agency is charged with developing and amplifying Heineken’s ‘Man of the World’ positioning and will be supporting its long-running sponsorship of the Australian Open in January 2016, which includes an activation on the Saturday of the tournament.
Managing director of Red Agency James Wright said, in a statement: “Whilst it already has great awareness in market our challenge is to bring fans closer to the brand and dial up the key brand traits that makes Heineken unique. As a bold and aspirational brand we are excited by the possibilities of where we can take it.”
VisitCanberra names The Works as lead creative agency
The Works has extended its relationship with VisitCanberra appointing it to handle creative strategy and development, digital, social and content marketing as part of a new initiative.
The win comes after the agency created the award-winning Human Brochure campaign for Canberra in 2012.
Ian Hill, director at VisitCanberra, said early projects with The Works had played an important role in its win.
“We have worked closely with them before and saw outstanding results from the Human Brochure campaign so we’re looking forward to expanding the relationship and continuing to promote just what a great destination Canberra and our region is to visit,” said Hill.
The Works creative partner Douglas Nichol, said that utilising data played an important part in the win.
“Data insights that led to great creative ideas were key to informing the approach we took during the pitch and we relish the opportunity to deliver this innovative new platform and even more effective work for VisitCanberra as a result.”
Optus and Virgin Mobile pitches done and dusted
The time for pitching is over, and around a dozen agencies vying for places on the rosters for Optus and Virgin Mobile across creative, media, PR and content can do nothing more but sit and wait.
Many are expecting an answer this side of December, but with the process having been ongoing since June it could have a while to go yet, with Singtel’s Singapore head office and procurement also having a say in the outcome of one of the biggest pitches this year.
Nic Christensen, Alex Hayes, Simon Canning
When I led the pitch for Optus incumbent business years ago it took a bee’s dick under 12 months to hear a result… yep, we won it but in that time the agency CEO and CD were replaced, with the Win that eventuated ensuring their longevity but not mine… a case of win the biz, lose the job – so I predict at least another 6 months wait haha
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