HSBC has clarified a MEDIA report (Lowe day, Bates loses HSBC AOR,
February 16), saying that Bates Worldwide's Red Hong Kong division is
still its agency, handling a significant portion of the bank's personal
financial services business.
The Lowe-Lintas win on a range of accounts, including the regional
corporate business, came from the group's decision to consolidate
accounts previously held by M&C Saatchi and Euro RSCG.
"We have been reducing the number of agencies we employ, and are now in
a two-agency situation in Hong Kong," said Mr Anthony Lau, HSBC senior
advertising and sponsorships manager, group public affairs
department.
He said the company had been moving towards the two-agency set-up since
1999, when the then Lowe group won its global corporate rebranding
project.
The Lowe-Lintas wins came about as a result of the growth in the bank's
volume and scope of business, Mr Lau said, adding that Bates' share of
the business had also grown.
"Lowe-Lintas won some new business, but Bates remains one of our two
agencies; both agencies are our important partners in Hong Kong, " Mr
Lau reiterated. "We do not have a creative AOR, only a media AOR, which
is with Zenith."
