TBWA faces review of £2m npower business

Energy retailer npower is understood to be reviewing its &£2m advertising at TBWA/London, following a management restructure earlier this year.

The reorganisation resulted in the departure of marketing director David Andrew. His role as director of brand development was merged with the role of director of residential, held by Kevin Miles (MW August 14).

The gas and electricity company is already in the middle of a media pitch, out of Manning Gottlieb OMD. Earlier this year the agency was appointed to handle planning and buying for npower rival London Electricity.

Npower is expected to hold pitches some time next year, but it is not clear whether the incumbent will be invited to repitch. The energy company has spent very little on advertising in the past 18 months, and has instead invested heavily in sponsorship, such as cricket.

TBWA was given the &£10m-plus task of building the npower brand three years ago, when the company rebranded from National Power (MW January 6, 2000).

Last year German utility giant RWE acquired Innogy, the parent company of npower. RWE recently appointed npower commercial director Simon Esberger to its global branding team (MW February 20).