Bates and MindShare win Telkom in Indonesia

JAKARTA - BatesAsia 141 and MindShare have won the Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) account after a lengthy pitch against incumbent Euro RSCG/MPG, Saatchi & Saatchi/ZenithOptimedia and Lowe/Initiative.

Bates will partner WPP media agency MindShare and join Euro ESCG on Telkom’s US$10 million media and creative roster, effective from January 2008.

“The win marks an excellent and exciting year for Bates,” said Bates Indonesia country head, Bob McBrain.

Agency rates were agreed via an online auction in a final round of pitching.

Telkom is one of Indonesia’ largest telcos with almost 50 million subscribers. The telecommunications company is expected to market its fixed line, high-speed internet and mobile brand Flexi heavily in 2008, and called a creative review – one of the country’s biggest - in August 2007.