Coca-Cola severs ties with Ogilvy Thailand

BANGKOK - Coca-Cola has severed ties with Ogilvy in Thailand after the drinks giant discovered the WPP agency had been working for archrival Pepsi.

Coca-Cola's flagship brand, Coke classic, has been removed from Ogilvy's care. So has Coke Zero, the low calorie beverage which Ogilvy launched in Thailand earlier this year.

Ogilvy Thailand chairman Alan Couldrey confirmed the news, describing the decision of an unnamed Ogilvy staffer to handle a project for Pepsi as "unfortunate".

Couldrey said: "It was something that shouldn't have happened. However, we (Ogilvy) still have Fanta (a Coca-Cola brand), and we're confident we can keep that relationship healthy."

The client is now believed to be in discussions with Coke roster agency McCann Erickson.