Diageo picks BMB for Bushmills task

by James Hamilton Campaign 08-Feb-07, 08:50

LONDON - Beattie McGuinness Bungay has won the global advertising duties for the Diageo-owned Irish whiskey Bushmills following a pitch against an undisclosed list of agencies.

The appointment comes as Diageo moves to push Bushmills as a premium whiskey brand. It earns BMB a place on the Diageo roster and is the agency's first global task.

The account is estimated to be worth as much as £15m globally, with a UK spend of between £3m and £5m.

Creative for Bushmills was previously handled by Bartle Bogle Hegarty, on a project basis.

The Bushmills brand will be 400 years old in 2008. It is understood that BMB will create a multimarket brand campaign timed to coincide with the anniversary.

Diageo purchased Bushmills from Pernod Ricard in August 2005 for £200 million. Last week, Pernod Ricard launched a search for an agency to push its Jameson brand amid declining sales of whisky in the UK. The search is being brokered through Agency Assessments International.

Both BMB and Diageo declined to comment.