Land Rover retains WPP for global account

by Joe Thomas, marketingmagazine.co.uk 12-May-09, 17:00

LONDON - Following a review of its agency arrangements Land Rover has retained its WPP agencies, which will now be centralised under the umbrella group Team Land Rover.

In January Marketing revealed that the car manufacturer was in discussions with agencies about the account (Marketing 27 Januray), which is globally held by WPP's Young & Rubicam, Wunderman and MindShare

Following the review, which according to Mark Foster, Land Rover corporate affairs manager was designed to create a more efficient communication structure, the business will now be serviced by a centralised agency set up consisting of strategic and creative teams, as well as media planning and buying. It will be known as Team Land Rover.

The government is currently holding talks with Tata, the India-based owner of Land Rover and Jaguar, about a £1bn support deal. Tata bought Land Rover and Jaguar from Ford in June 2008, spending £1.15bn.

Land Rover sales in 2008 were down 30% year on year with 46,552 new Land Rover models being sold in 2007 compared with 32,567 in 2008, according to the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders.