NI to review 10m tabloid brief
News International is poised to review the estimated 10m advertising account for both The Sun and The News of the World, currently with TBWA/ Simons Palmer.
The loss of such a large, high profile account would be an enormous blow to the newly-formed agency. Simons Palmer picked up the business in 1994 when it was reviewed out of Arc Advertising.
It is understood that NI has been increasingly concerned about the account following the merger of Simons Palmer and TBWA in January, which has resulted in the loss of members of the creative team and other accounts. Since the merger Pretty Polly, Wrigley’s and French Connection have all followed TBWA creative director Trevor Beattie to GGT.
Defections from the creative departments include Andy Amadeo, Mick Mahoney, Andy McKay and Paul Hodgkinson.
The Sun marketing director Ellis Watson, who has denied rumours of a review in the past, declined to comment. According to Nielsen-MEAL figures, The Sun spent 4.9m on advertising last year and the News of the World spent 2.9m.
Both papers saw a drop in sales over the election period.
