TBWA splits with 1.3m Jameson

TBWA has split from Campbell Distillers and lost the 1.3m (Register-MEAL) Jameson whiskey account as a result. The drinks company is likely to centralise the whole of its advertising into one agency.

Campbell Distillers is the UK subsidiary of Pernod Ricard. CME.KHBB holds the Pernod account but there is no suggestion the 900,000 business is moving.

However, Jameson is not likely to move into CME.KHBB because it would conflict with Canadian Club – owned by Allied Domecq.

TBWA and Campbell say they split amicably because of the agency’s increasing commitments to Seagram, which handles the Absolut and Chivas Regal spirits brands. Eurospace will continue to handle media.

“Unfortunately, we will find it increasingly difficult to service two masters,” says TBWA London chairman Alasdair Ritchie.

CME.KHBB says its loyalty will be to Allied Domecq.

“I don’t know of any plans by Campbell to consolidate its account, but if it were to happen we would have a problem with our Canadian Club account, and our loyalty is to that,” says CME.KHBB chairman Hamish Pringle.

– TBWA has parted company with accountancy firm Ernst & Young, which spent about 750,000 through the agency. It held the account for about five years and says the split is because of differences in strategy.