WH Smith reviews £10m buying and planning brief

WH Smith is reviewing its &£10m media buying and planning account with Starcom Motive.

Marketing Week first tipped the account would be reviewed when new chief executive Kate Swann announced a review of the business following poor trading figures for the Christmas period (MW January 8). It is expected that Starcom Motive will repitch for the business.

Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO handles the advertising account. A WH Smith spokeswoman says: “We have made no decision to review it.”

Katie Spriggs, WHS Smith UK brand communications director, says: “We have had a very good working relationship with Starcom Motive for ten years. However, we feel that we should review this relationship, partly as good business practice, partly to evaluate the current thinking available.”

The media review follows a restructure which resulted in the ousting of the retailer’s most senior marketer brand director Muriel Stirling earlier this month (MW January 15).

WH Smith is looking to appoint a commercial director with overall responsibility for trading and marketing. Former trading director Sue Wharton will be acting commercial director in the interim. A marketing director will report to the commercial director. At the time of the restructure a WH Smith spokeswoman said that Spriggs’s role with the retailer had been unaffected by the review.