MediaVest wins Northern Rock

Northern Rock has hired MediaVest Manchester as the first media agency on its 2.5m business and reappointed Newcastle-based Cravens Advertising to handle its creative account.

The media planning and buying will be handled by a satellite division of MediaVest Manchester due to open in Newcastle next month. Cravens media director Grahame Easthope will head the division.

For the past 23 years, Cravens has acted as a full-service agency on the account. However, Northern Rock executive director Adam Applegarth says the media scene is becoming increasingly complex and the bank now needs a media specialist to navigate a path through the market.

MediaVest Manchester managing partner Mike Williams says: “We have the planning and research capabilities to handle this account.” MediaVest Manchester pitched against Feather Brooksbank to win the business.

Williams adds the Newcastle office is being opened to service an increasing number of clients in the North-east, as well as those clients shared with Newcastle creative agency Yellow M – such as Littlewoods Home Shopping, Reg Vardy and a recent win Dickens DIY.