Manning grabs 4m Britannia

Manning Gottlieb Media has picked up its second new business win in a week, after taking the 4m Britannia Building Society planning and buying account from incumbent John Ayling & Associates.

Manning won the financial services group’s business after pitching against three other agencies including Ayling, Mediapolis and The Media Business North.

Britannia’s media review kicked off in August (MW August 23) after Gerald Gregory was promoted from head of lending to marketing director in September. He replaced Mike Kirsch, who left in June to become head of marketing at NatWest Life & Investment Services.

Britannia’s marketing services controller, Julie Grant, says: “It was a logical time to review the account. Our marketing and subsequently our ad strategy has been refocused to underline and support our positioning as ‘The Sharing Society’.”

Ayling has held the Britannia account since April 1993. The media review has not affected the creative account, which is handled by Manchester-based BDH, a subsidiary of the GGT Group.

The whole account includes Britannia’s mortgage business, estate agents and new homes. According to Register-MEAL, Britannia spent 2.2m last year, however, the agencies were told to expect a budget of 4m.

Manning last week won the 4m Teletext media account in a pitch with St Luke’s and has also picked up the Eurostar and Goldfish accounts this year.