Ogilvy cuts ties with HK beverage firm

<p>HONG KONG: Ogilvy & Mather has parted ways with Hong Kong trading </p><p>and distribution company A. S. Watson Group after winning Coca-Cola </p><p>brands' Fanta and Sprite across 11 Asian markets in a global </p><p>realignment. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Client concerns prompted O&M to end its 11-year relationship with the </p><p>company for its water and Mr Juicy brands from January 2000, although </p><p>O&M will only be working on Coke's carbonated brands. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>O&M's Greater China group chairman Joseph Wang said both sides expressed </p><p>concerns about sharing the same agency. "Watson's aware that Coke has </p><p>Bonaqua (its water brand) and juices, while Coke was concerned about </p><p>sharing market information, particularly as growth for Coke will come </p><p>from its non-carbonated categories." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The parting of ways comes despite pioneering steps by the agency to </p><p>strengthen in-house security measures across Asia. Wang said the agency </p><p>had commissioned a third-party for a US$100,000 audit of security </p><p>measures in force at its five Greater China offices since the agency </p><p>handles Motorola as well as interactive and PR assignments for </p><p>Nokia. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Wang said agencies would need to tackle the security issue soon because </p><p>the bigger an agency group becomes, the more difficult it is to avoid </p><p>taking on clients in the same category. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>