Senior MediaCom executives have confirmed that the agency has not repitched for the account, further noting GroupM has no representative within the review.
“MediaCom has decided not to participate in the review and there will be no WPP or GroupM agency pitching for media either,” said a senior WPP source. “Frankly, Nokia went through a very intensive internal review process in terms of media, and we passed all the tests, but we couldn’t agree on a cost."
“MediaCom has decided not to participate in the review and there will be no WPP or GroupM agency pitching for media either,” said a senior WPP source. “Frankly, Nokia went through a very intensive internal review process in terms of media, and we passed all the tests, but we couldn’t agree on a cost."
The source continued: “We would be running a real loss on the business, and participating in the pitch would have no upside for us. We submitted our best offer and there was nothing else it could do in the pitch.”
Contrary to previous global reports, the source noted that MediaCom had not been involved in the Nokia review since “day one”.
The account has been held by the WPP agency since January 2006, when it ousted 10-year incumbent ZenithOptimedia.
The agency currently oversees the handset maker’s business in Asia, Europe and the US.
Sources close to the pitch say agencies from at least Omnicom, Interpublic Group and Havas are vying for the account.
Nokia declined to comment on MediaCom’s decision.
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