Alban reels as rival wins briefs

Outdoor advertising specialist Alban Group is reeling this week after losing two of its largest contracts to rival Posterscope.

Media specialist agency Concord, which is owned by the group, has lost the contract to plan outdoor advertising for Walker Media.

Outdoor Connection, which is half-owned by Alban and half-owned by Omnicom, has also lost business – to plan Omnicom-owned OMD UK’s outdoor advertising. Alban’s buying agency Blade buys outdoor on behalf of Outdoor Connection and Concord.

Both Walker and OMD have moved their planning and buying business to Posterscope. Insiders claim Posterscope is also set to win Optimedia’s outdoor business, also handled by Concord, after the media agency’s merger with Zenith.

Although an exact figure for Concord and Outdoor Connection’s losses is not known, Walker and OMD’s business was worth millions of pounds to Alban.

The decision to move OMD’s business out of fellow Omnicom agency Outdoor Connection was made by OMD European chief executive Colin Gottlieb, who was unavailable for comment.

Outdoor Connection chief executive Carole Kerman says: “It was a corporate decision and nothing to do with the quality of our service.”

Outdoor Connection continues to buy outdoor for several advertisers, including BT and media agency PHD. Concord still handles buying for Leagas Delaney and has direct business with several advertisers including Nestlé and Peugeot Citroën.