INTERNATIONAL: BBJ secures share of Coca-Cola media task from McCann

BBJ has grabbed the strategic planning and non-TV buying business

for Coca-Cola in the UK, leaving Universal McCann with the pounds 25

million (about USdollars 35 million) TV buying account.

Elsewhere in Coca-Cola Great Britain's sweeping review of its

advertising arrangements, Wieden & Kennedy has retained the pounds 7

million Diet Coke business after a pitch.

Decisions remain to be made on a number of other Coca-Cola brands in the

UK, as marketing directors move to implement a "think local, act local"

strategy.

BBJ and Universal pitched against Starcom Motive for Coca-Cola's pounds

32 million UK media business.

The decision to split the account echoes Coca-Cola's US arrangements,

where strategic planning is handled by Leo Burnett and buying by

Universal.

The non-TV buying business won by BBJ accounts for pounds 7 million of

Coca-Cola's total UK spend.

However, there are indications that this share might increase as

Coca-Cola shifts towards a more diverse advertising strategy.

Ms Trista Grant, the BBJ managing director, said: "It's a challenging

assignment delivering integrated communications strategies for some of

the most dynamic brands in the world.

"We're excited to have the opportunity to work with such a world-class

marketing company."

Ms Grant spent 12 years working on the Coca-Cola account for Universal

in the UK, as well as another two-year stint running the account in

Australia.

Her long history with the company was said to have placed BBJ in a

strong position to poach the high-profile UK business.

BBJ's sister agencies, Carat Insight and Carat Interactive, will handle

media research and the new media elements of the business.

Ms Charlotte Oades, the Coca-Cola GB marketing director, said: "Given

the dramatic expansion of our media mix and the new technologies we are

exploring, this configuration will serve our needs best."