Starcom Mediavest Group
SMG has been appointed as the media agency partner of du, the Dubai-based integrated telecommunications service provider. The win came after an intensive eight-month, multi-agency pitch, with Starcom coming out on top against MediaCom and OMD, who handled the account previously. SMG will handle all of the brand's media planning and buying, as well as data and analytics for its offline and online business. SMG won the bid thanks to a bespoke integrated communication model, which was based on using data to “Create human experiences to further build the brand and connect it to its consumers.”
SMG has been appointed as the media agency partner of du, the Dubai-based integrated telecommunications service provider
Alex Saber, chairman of SMG/VivaKi MENA, said they are “Thrilled to be selected” as the media agency for a “Great brand with huge ambitions.” He is “Excited and eager to get started in achieving them together.” Hala Badri, EVP of brand and communications at du, said they were “Impressed with SMG's exciting and innovative pitch,” which made it easy for du to agree on a decision to bring them in. She looks forward “To working with them as a partner of choice, leveraging their deep and proven experience working with clients facing unprecedented change in technology and customer preferences.” John Antoniades, CEO of SMG MENA, meanwhile, is “Honoured to be chosen for du,” as he is “Truly inspired by their ambition of adding life to life as the tech fabric and infrastructure of the UAE.”
DDB Chicago
DDB Chicago has been announced as the American Cancer Society's creative and digital agency for all relevant advertising duties. Paul Gunning, CEO of DDB Chicago, said the agency has “An immense amount of pride to be working for the American Cancer Society,” because it's such a personal cause for so many people, which makes them “All the more passionate about working with such a worthy organisation.” He hopes that “A strategically sound proposition and a brilliant, break-through campaign will engage more people and also enable more donations to help beat this terrible disease.”
DDB Chicago has been announced as the American Caner Society's creative and digital agency
Daniela Campari, senior vice president of marketing at the ACS, added that they were “Particularly impressed with how personally attached DDB Chicago was to the Society mission,” and believes their “Considerable capabilities and their sentiment will be reflected in the work they produce, and will help ACS save and improving more lives in the fight against Cancer.”
WPP
WPP announced this week that its Wunderman subsidiary has acquired a majority stake in Binarix (Phantasia), a leading Peruvian digital marketing firm, thereby further expanding its reach in Latin America and bolstering its growing digital marketing business. Whilst the exact amount of the purchase has not been disclosed, Binarix is estimated to have earned over $22 million last year and it counts several regional and global industrial giants among its clients, such as Telefonica, Backus, Banco de Credito, Samsung and Coca-Cola.
WPP's Wunderman has acquired a majority stake in Binarix SAC (Phantasia), a leading Peruvian digital marketing firm
The Peruvian firm, which was founded in 1998 and employs around 200 people, provides consulting, digital marketing, creative and media buying service, and has been an affiliate of Wunderman since 2012. WPP said in a statement that the investment “Continues WPP's strategy of investing in fast growing sectors such as digital and its commitment to developing its strategic networks throughout Latin America.”
E.ON
Energy supplier E.ON is seeking greater unity between its above-the-line and direct advertising and its looking for an integrated agency that can handle such a task in the UK. It's working with ISBA on the pitch and RFIs have already been sent to agencies, with briefings scheduled for February and a result expected in May. DLKW Lowe is the above-the-line incumbent, whilst Havas EHS currently handles direct business. MediaCom and Engine, which respectively handle E.ON’s media and digital accounts, are unaffected. A spokesman for E.On said they “Continue to have strong and effective working relationships with DLKW Lowe and Havas EHS, and are delighted that both will be part of our pitch process.”
