Nokia talks to agencies about £175m global account

by Ian Darby, Campaign 01-Jun-06, 08:30

LONDON - Nokia is talking to agency networks about its £175m global ad arrangements.

Sources said the talks were at an early stage. The meetings, in which Nokia is focusing on networks' offerings and terms, are currently understood to be part of a benchmarking exercise.

Grey London holds the bulk of the Nokia account, working across three of Nokia's four divisions: mobile phones; enterprise solutions and networks.

Interpublic agencies, including Lowe Worldwide, are also on the roster, having been appointed in January 2005 after a holding company pitch against WPP, Omnicom and Havas.

IPG was appointed by Nokia's multimedia division to create advertising and other communications for Nokia's Nseries products. Nokia has signed off a major campaign, created by Lowe London, which will break globally in September.

Nokia has been investing in its central marketing operation over the past year.

In December, it appointed Jenny Williams, the former Masterfoods marketer, as its global head of advertising. Williams is currently heading the search for an agency to develop a global online music presence (Campaign, 19 May).

MediaCom holds the bulk of Nokia's media business, recently adding the Asia-Pacific region to its European responsibilities after a consolidation process.

Nokia declined to comment on the story.

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