BMP DDB scoops £11m TUI UK brief in European agency shake-up

BMP DDB has snatched the &£11m advertising account for TUI UK from WCRS after a European agency reshuffle at the German-owned travel company.TUI UK owns the Thomson Holidays tour operator, the Lunn Poly retail brand and Britannia Airways in the UK. Parent company TUI AG is splitting its &£63m European advertising business between DDB and Jung von Matt, as part of its strategy to create a European holiday “superbrand”.WCRS’ tenure on the Thomson Holidays account has been short. The agency, which already handled the Lunn Poly account, was awarded the Thomson business in July last year, by director of marketing Hugh Edwards (MW July 4, 2002). The account was previously handled by HHCL & Partners.Jung von Matt Hamburg and DDB were appointed after pitching against Grey Worldwide Dusseldorf and Saatchi & Saatchi Frankfurt. TUI’s German agency, Springer & Jacoby, was not on the pitch list. European marketing director Michael Lambertz oversaw the pitch.TUI’s local marketing directors are expected to maintain some autonomy under the new arrangements. Edwards has a board-level position in the UK and has helped drive branding initiatives such as the &£5m sponsorship of Tottenham Hotspur FC.WCRS created Thomson’s current &£6m advertising campaign, which broke on Boxing Day.