Bulgari signs on Initiative after OMD quits brief

SINGAPORE: Italian luxury goods company Bulgari has appointed Initiative Media after incumbent agency OMD resigned the Asia-Pacific business to work for rival luxury maker Richemont.

Initiative Media was involved in a credentials pitch against Carat and had to demonstrate its media buying and planning capabilities by working on a project for a new product launch. Initiative Media will handle media buying and planning for Bulgari, which advertises mainly through print.

Bulgari's key advertising markets for perfumes are China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Pakistan; while its accessories and jewellery are advertised in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia and China. Kathy Biss-Barbera, Initiative Media client services director, and Patricia Lim, the agency's senior media manager, will head up the account and report to Lim Eck Seng, Bulgari marketing manager South Pacific.