OCBC concludes four-month hunt for creative AOR

In a statement, OCBC group communications head Koh Ching Ching said: "We confirm that we have appointed Young & Rubicam Brands as our advertising agency for 2006. The agency will support us in our brand and marketing communications programmes for the Asian region, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and China." OCBC's decision comes despite an existing global relationship between Citibank and Y&R's below-the-line arm Wunderman. Koh added that OCBC is satisfied by the arrangement's exclusivity. It is believed that Young & Rubicam Brands will create a new tailor-made business to handle the OCBC account. The win caps a stellar year for the WPP network, which secured the business following a final phase shootout against Leo Burnett and Euro RSCG. The first round of the pitch also included longtime incumbent Batey Red Cell, and Grey. Over the last year, Y&R Singapore has won business from Singapore Tourism Board and Cisco Security, successfully defended its SingTel brief, and been named agency of the year in Singapore's Hall of Fame Awards.