Westpac pitches creative account, Ogilvy and DDB go head to head

Banking giant Westpac has called a pitch for its advertising account, Mumbrella can reveal.

The move pushes Ted Horton’s Big Red agency off the business, with the Sydney offices of DDB and Ogilvy the only shops invited to pitch.

The review is unrelated to the exit of marketing chief Damian Eales, a Westpac spokesman told Mumbrella. Eales was recently replaced by John Harries as general manager of strategic marketing, joining from rival ANZ.

The pitch is part of a regular review of Westpac’s above-the-line advertising activity, and does not affect its below-the-line account, currently held by Lavender, the spokesman said.