Volkswagen puts $8m Aussie deal to review

<p>SYDNEY: Volkswagen is putting its US$8 million advertising </p><p>account up for pitch less than a year after it took over the Australian </p><p>franchise and retained incumbent agency FNL Communications. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>In January this year, FNL was given a one-year contract, which is due to </p><p>expire shortly, prompting the car manufacturer's hunt for a new </p><p>advertising agency. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Volkswagen's general manager Russel Turnham said the company was </p><p>reluctant to make any drastic changes when it took over the franchise. </p><p>But it fully intended to revise its advertising strategy once FNL's </p><p>contract expired. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"At the time of taking over, we decided it was a good time to take a </p><p>fresh look at the advertising, but because everything else was changing, </p><p>we didn't need the angst of changing agencies," he said. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Despite Volkswagen's eagerness to make a fresh start and its planned </p><p>account review, Turnham said this did not necessarily mean changing ad </p><p>agencies. "The incumbent agency was, and still is, doing good work. When </p><p>we gave them the one-year tenure, we said we'd revise it at the end of </p><p>the year. The time is here. It's as simple as that." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>FNL will be pitching for the business against DDB, which handles </p><p>Volkswagen in most regions, Brown Melhuish Fishlock and Batey Kazoo. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>