Agency news & analysis

Sage by Heston Blumenthal, a new range of appliances from the celebrity chef, has appointed MBA to handle its UK advertising account.

Comparethemarket reviews CRM account

Comparethemarket.com is holding a pitch for its CRM business, currently held by Havas EHS, in the second review of its creative roster this year.

Cigarette giant looks for ad agency

British American Tobacco is looking for an advertising agency to handle a campaign to support the launch of its Vype electronic cigarette next year.

Diageo launches Cîroc vodka pitch

Diageo is looking to expand its roster with a search for an advertising agency to handle its vodka brand Cîroc.

Govt seeks shop for Think! activity

The Department for Transport is looking for an advertising agency to continue its Think! road-safety campaign, ending a decades-long relationship with Leo Burnett, in the first major brief issued to the Government's new creative framework.

JWT London hires Barber as head of broadcast

JWT London has hired Laurence Barber from Mother as its head of broadcast, replacing Anthony Falco.

AMV lands government brief to increase electric car sales

Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO has won a pitch to create a campaign to boost sales of low-emission cars.

Pitch update

This week's pitch news.

Now picks up Freesat advertising business

Freesat, the satellite TV service, has appointed Now to handle its ad account.

M&S's agencies confident of future despite exit of Sharp

Marks & Spencer's agencies were confident this week that no agency review would take place imminently, despite the retirement of the brand's executive director of marketing, Steven Sharp.

Sousa plots launch of Mother office in Brazil

Mother has promoted the creative director Gustavo Sousa to partner and tasked him with planning the launch of an office in Brazil.

Rolls-Royce kicks off global creative pitch

Rolls-Royce, the luxury car brand owned by BMW, is reviewing its global advertising business, currently held by Partners Andrews Aldridge.

Grand Visual bolsters management team

Grand Visual has hired Ben Putland as production director and Jeremy Taylor as account director.

DigitasLBi and Razorfish appoint international leaders

DigitasLBi and Razorfish, the Publicis-owned digital networks, have appointed international leaders.

Just Eat rival calls European ad pitch

Delivery Hero, the company that owns a network of food delivery websites, is looking for an ad agency to work on its brands in Europe.

Live: Thinkbox's 'TV Nation'

Live streamed coverage of Thinkbox's 'TV Nation' event, reviewing British life and marketing post-Olympics.

OgilvyOne hires PwC marketer Mark South to board

OgilvyOne has hired Mark South as regional director of strategic services for Europe, Africa and the Middle East (EAME).

Initiative scoops Amazon global media business

Amazon has moved its global media account into Interpublic Group agency Initiative, after a final pitch against incumbent Mindshare and its sister Group M agency, MediaCom.

Shelter picks Chameleon as strategic partner for online giving

Housing and homeless charity Shelter has appointed Chameleon to work across its online giving platforms.

Barclaycard teams up with Dare for digital campaign

Barclaycard has launched a live digital campaign with Dare, featuring internet stars including Brett Domino Trio creating personalised songs for tweeters, such as Derren Brown, to promote its Bespoke Offers.

Helen Weisinger to leave EDC group marketing role

Helen Weisinger, the group chief marketing officer at EDC, is to leave the business at the end of May, as the responsibility for new business and marketing falls back to the group's individual agencies.