Burkitt scoops £5m loans task

The Mortgage Operation (TMO), which sells mortgages exclusively through brokers, has appointed Court Burkitt to its &£5m creative account following a three-way pitch.

The agency beat Cogent and Doner Cardwell Hawkins to the business.

Burkitt’s first creative work will be for a new software-based product.

Media planning and buying will be handled by Mediacom TMB; all below-the-line work by Burkitt subsidiary Orca.

Burkitt board account director Paddy Sutton says: “We’ve been on the lookout for an exciting financial services client and TMO, with its existing financial products and plans for the coming year, presents us with a great opportunity to enter this arena.”

TMO is the UK’s largest independent distributor of mortgages through financial advisers, estate agents, accountants and solicitors. Its lending partners include Halifax Mortgage Services, Birmingham Midshires, the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Woolwich.

Although it does not sell directly to customers, TMO believes advertising will raise awareness of the service.

The agency appointment comes as the mortgage industry faces new pressure from direct operators and government regulation.