£25m Halifax to Delaney Lund

Halifax, the country’s biggest home loans provider, has appointed Delaney Lund Knox Warren to its &£25m advertising account.

The appointment leaves Bates UK, the incumbent on the whole business for 12 years, with only the below-the-line account, worth an estimated &£3m. The business is handled through its subsidiary, 141 Com.

Delaney Lund won the business after a final pitch against Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R in a process lasting nine weeks. The bank had originally shortlisted five agencies, including Bates, FCA, and Ogilvy, for the business. The pitch was conducted by Agency Insight.

Halifax general marketing manager Philip Hanson says: “We have had a long and fruitful relationship with Bates, which will continue below the line. We are looking forward to developing an equally successful partnership with Delaney Lund as we drive growth in the Halifax brand.”

Delaney Lund chairman Greg Delaney says: “The pitch was very thorough – a marathon, rather than a sprint. But it is always more satisfying to win a long pitch because you know the client has taken time to appraise all the elements – the agency, the strategy and the creative work. We can’t wait to get going.”

Late last year, the Halifax appointed Scottish agency The Union to handle the &£15m launch of its Internet and telebanking operation, Greenfield. Bates was not invited to pitch for this business.

The media account, handled by Zenith, is unaffected by the review.