Lowe lands Thai Airways account

Lowe Worldwide Bangkok has snatched Thai Airways' lucrative international creative account from incumbent agency JWT, seeing off competition from eight agencies during the pitch, while Creative Juice\G1 will continue to handle domestic duties after pitching for international. Although regarded as a creative account by the client, Lowe was supported by a number of IPG agencies, thought to include Initiative, Weber Shandwick, Octagon, Jack Morton and Draft. Total billings across the disciplines are tipped at around US$30 million according to one industry source, with another placing the creative component at around US$8.5 million. Nine agencies began the pitch, but only Lowe, JWT, Dentsu and Creative Juice\G1 made it to the final round. Both Lowe Worldwide and IPG chiefs declined to comment.