The Network pitches for M&C media

The Network, Ogilvy & Mather’s media department, is pitching to M&C Saatchi to replace Optimedia as its media buying operation.

Managing director Mandy Pooler is attempting to exploit The Network’s relationship with M&C, resulting from their joint tenure of ITV’s media buying account. M&C appointed The Network to the 5m business in February (MW February 9).

The Network initiative has been given more grist by M&C’s decision to move the Conservative Party’s media buying account from Optimedia to CIA Medianetwork (MW June 7). Optimedia claims the account move has no implications for its relationship with M&C.

M&C’s BA account is both the agency’s greatest prize and the major obstacle to a move. BA completed its annual review of both the media buying and creative accounts last month and reconfirmed M&C and Optimedia for another year. The Publicis/Optimedia network is considered crucial to the handling of the global BA account.