Zenith China bounces back from P&G loss with 10 new accounts

<p>Zenith Media has bounced back from its shock loss of the China P&G </p><p>media buying account thanks to a series of new account wins, most of </p><p>them start-up dotcoms anxious to break into the world's most populous </p><p>nation in record time. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The P&G account, said by industry analysts to be worth between US$120 million and US$160 million, was taken over by Quest Media - </p><p>the media company set up between Starcom and MediaVest, which are the </p><p>respective media arms of Leo Burnett and D'Arcy - following a pitch late </p><p>last year. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>John Perriss, the London-based chairman and chief executive of Zenith </p><p>Media, refused to say what the P&G account was worth although he did say </p><p>that more than 10 new wins in China over the past few months made up for </p><p>the loss. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The new wins consisted of seven dotcoms including financial portal </p><p>gotrade.com and general portal MIH, plus about six traditional </p><p>businesses such as Danone Biscuit, Hewlett-Packard's corporate account </p><p>and Shang Wu Tong, a leading distributor of personal digital </p><p>assistants. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Mr Perriss, therefore, scotched rumours that Zenith China was in trouble </p><p>and that it was about to start laying off significant numbers of its </p><p>165-strong staff. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>He said that the agency's China billings last year totalled US$380 million, accounting for more than a fifth of the Asia-Pacific </p><p>billing of US$1.6 billion, and that it was now on track for </p><p>another year of growth. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The 1999 China billings were up 16 per cent year-on-year, while the </p><p>Asia-Pacific figure rose 17 per cent. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>On the departure of regional CEO Antony Young, Mr Perriss said the </p><p>search was on for a replacement, however, he told MEDIA: "I envisage </p><p>that it will be months rather than weeks before we are ready to make an </p><p>announcement for a replacement." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>He described Mr Young's contribution to the agency as invaluable, adding </p><p>that he was looking for "a person with agency and media skills plus </p><p>leadership qualities who will motivate people to get into new </p><p>sectors". </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The search was being undertaken globally, internally and externally, he </p><p>said. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>However, Mr Perriss virtually discounted hiring someone from the client </p><p>side. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"The client side is very demanding and people from there are not used to </p><p>this, but agency people are," he said. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>