Saatchi & Saatchi take Avaya from McCann

by Joanne Oatts, Brand Republic 07-Jun-06, 12:00

LONDON - Saatchi & Saatchi have won the global creative business for telecoms company Avaya, taking the $40m account from McCann Erickson New York, which has worked on the business since 2002.

Publicis Groupe-owned Saatchis' brief is broader than McCanns, working on corporate image and product advertising, customer relationship and promotional and events marketing.

The creative account will be lead by Saatchis' New York office with support from offices in the UK, Germany, India, China and Brazil.

Avaya, which is sponsoring the Fifa World Cup, supply business telephone services via the internet.

Jocelyne Attal, Avaya chief marketing officer, said Saatchis' "captured our spirit of innovation and the worldwide integrated marketing network truly provides the global reach our business demands."

Adweek also reported Avaya's media spend in the US has declined in the past three years from nearly $30m in 2003 to $20m in 2004, with only $10m spent last year.

A review of the global media account is reported to be under way. Universal McCann is the incumbent.

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