SYDNEY: DDB has won the US$8 million Volkswagen Australia
account in a pitch against three other agencies, including FNL
Communications.
The move comes about a year after the German automaker took over the
local franchise and gave FNL a one-year contract which is due to expire
on January 1, 2002.
Volkswagen Australia's general manager of marketing, Russell Turnham,
saidDDB - which was one of two agencies along with Brandhouse Arnold,
handling the global Volkswagen business - outshone short-listed agencies
Batey Kazoo, BMF and FNL during the pitch.
"DDB was the clear winner in the process. The print campaigns they
presented to us were very strong and the creativity was consistent with
where the Volkswagen brand needs to be to meet our long-term
objectives."
Industry speculation tipped DDB to be the winner, with its global
contracts seen to be giving them an advantage. However, Turnham said
DDB's global relationship did not influence the decision. Our decision
was purely based on their ability to service the business at the
standard we wanted. We already have access to the DDB global network
anyway."
There was no review of the media account, which remains with Initiative
Media.
