…as British Gas calls pitch for services firm

British Gas Services, the central heating and servicing arm of Centrica, is reviewing its 4m advertising account held by TBWA Simons Palmer and is drawing up a short-list of agencies.

The move comes after the company, which markets British Gas domestic central heating and boiler products such as the Celsia system, and services domestic gas appliances, appointed direct marketing agency Evans Hunt Scott for a 1m below-the-line push.

A spokesman for British Gas Services says: “We have been reviewing our agencies, and there are several involved. It is early days and we haven’t drawn up a shortlist yet.”

The account was handled by TBWA before its merger with Simons Palmer Clemmow Johnson. TBWA ran a 4m campaign last year for Celsia. The decision to review the advertising comes shortly after the appointment of Kevin Mahoney to the position of marketing and sales director. He previously worked at WH Smith Supplies. (MW October 18 1996)

British Gas Services is part of Centrica, along with British Gas Trading and the Energy Centre chain of stores.