AdNews wraps up the biggest pitch news and wins from the last fortnight.

Telstra holds closed pitch

Telco Telstra is reviewing its creative agency roster, exactly 12 months after CMO Brent Smart was appointed to the business, industry insighters confirmed to AdNews.

The Monkey's, CHEP and DDB current sit on the roster. Telstra spent $248M on advertising last year.

Havas Media Melbourne wins Momentum Energy pitch

Australian energy provider Momentum Energy has re-appointed Havas Media Network as its agency of record after a competitive pitch process. Extending its six-year relationship, Havas will continue offering media strategy, planning and implementation – both traditional and performance.

Initiative launches in New Zealand after ASB win

IPG's media agency Initiative has been appointed media partner to New Zealand bank ASB and will expand its global footprint by launching in New Zealand as Initiative Aotearoa.

The new business announcement follows a competitive pitch process which saw expressions of interest from a group of high-calibre local and international agencies.

Unilever returns to Mindshare with $40M pitch win

GroupM's media agency Mindshare has welcomed back Unilever's $40M account, after a competitive pitch.

PHD is the incumbent who won it from Mindshare initially in 2015.

Unilever, which houses brands including Lynx, Dove, Continental, Ben & Jerry’s, Comfort, Persil and more.

Initiative wins Fantastic Furniture's media account

Australian furniture and bedding retailer Fantastic Furniture has appointed Initiative as its media agency of record for all offline media planning and buying, including BVOD and Youtube, after a competitive media review.

The account was previously held by Bohemia Digital.

HSBC media account reappointed to Omnicom

HSBC Bank has handed its global media planning and buying account to Omnicom's media agency PHD but bespoke agency Foundation will be handling the services locally, AdNews revealed.

This is due to a bank client conflict, as PHD holds ANZ Bank.

Dentsu Creative appointed by RMIT University

Dentsu Creative has been appointed as RMIT University’s new creative agency partner, after a public tender of over 20 agencies, as Australia’s largest higher education institution seeks to drive its new strategy - Knowledge with Action.

The appointment marks the first time RMIT has aligned with one brand and creative agency.

FoodCo appoints Connecting Plots as creative agency

Food and coffee franchise retailer, FoodCo has appointed Connecting Plots as its creative agency of record.

Connecting Plots are currently working on new creative platforms for both the Muffin Break and Jamaica Blue brands which will be rolling out in market over the coming months.

KOJO wins National Basketball League for the 2023-24 season

Sport experience company KOJO has partnered with the National Basketball League (NBL) to develop and deliver a brand platform and marketing campaign for the 2023-24 season following a competitive tender.

KOJO will develop a multi-platform brand strategy launching in September 2023, with the goal to support the NBL’s trajectory to be the leading sport in Australia for summer.

Havas and Organic Pacific appointed by VA Media

Entertainment company VA Media has appointed Organic Pacific and Havas to support its international growth ambitions.

The remit includes development of a global strategy, international brand profiling and industry event approach.

Silverchain appoints Mediahub as agency of record

National health and aged care brand Silverchain has appointed Mediahub as its media agency of record.

Managed out of Mediahub’s Perth office, Mediahub will provide strategy, creative media approaches and digital planning across search, social, programmatic data and analytics to Silverchain.

Work has began immediately, with two campaigns set to launch in the coming weeks.

Common Ventures wins ACMA's BetStop campaign

Creative agency Common Ventures has been appointed by the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) to manage the strategy and a launch campaign for new government service, BetStop, following a competitive pitch process.

I.M.A wins Allied Express and SMEC

B2B marketing consultancy I.M.A has won freight solutions provider Allied Express and engineering consultancy SMEC following competitive pitches.

I.M.A will assist on all strategic marketing and tactical requirements for the Allied Express brand. I.M.A’s remit for SMEC includes creation of a new brand positioning across all touchpoints and comms.

Thinkerbell Aotearoa appointed creative partner for Lion NZ

Thinkerbell Aotearoa has been appointed as a key creative partner for Lion New Zealand, following a competitive pitch process led by Trinity P3.

Franck Muller appoints MAXCo.LAB as agency of record

Swiss watchmakers Franck Muller have appointed MAXCo.LAB as the brand’s agency of record for the Australian market.

Working in collaboration with the Franck Muller regional team in Singapore, MAXCo.LAB will manage public relations, media advertising and prestige events for Franck Muller in the Australian market.

Smack Bang appointed as creative agency for Best Gift Group

Independent creative and digital agency Smack Bang has been appointed to manage the creative for Australia’s premier hospitality marketing and gift card company Best Gift Group.

Not Another wins contract for Australian government's eSafety campaign

Full-service creative agency Not Another has been awarded a campaign contract from the Australian Government’s eSafety commissioner to raise public awareness about eSafety’s role in keeping Australians safe online.

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