Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO (AMV) repitches for £2.5m BHF

The British Heart Foundation is reviewing its £2.5m advertising business, held by Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO (AMV), as part of an overhaul of its marketing strategy.

The charity has started to meet with agencies with a view to having one in place to create a new burst of advertising in February.

A British Heart Foundation spokesman says: “We have been using AMV for four years and have had a very happy relationship with them. When we go out to invite people to pitch they will be one of the agencies we see.”

The review is part of a new five-year plan and shift in focus by the charity. The spokesman says: “If you look at the statistics, the number of people dying from heart disease in the UK has fallen, which is fantastic. But people living with heart disease has gone up so we have to begin to shift our message to reflect that.”

Last year, the charity increased its advertising budget to £5.2m to celebrate its 40th anniversary, but the spokesman says the budget will be £2.2m for this financial year which is in line with its normal expenditure.

The media account, which is held by Manning Gottlieb OMD, is unaffected by the review.