AMV scoops £11m Norwich Union brief

Norwich Union has awarded its &£11m brand, life and pensions advertising business to Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO (AMV) after a final contest against Fallon. The move consolidates all the insurer’s advertising with AMV, which already held the &£7m account for Norwich Union Direct.

Incumbent McCann Erickson did not repitch. Mother withdrew after a conflict arose with an existing client, internet bank Egg, and was replaced by DDB London. The pitch was handled by Agency Insight.

The review was called by Norwich Union director of marketing strategy and communications Sally Shire in April (MW April 1). Shire worked closely with Norwich Union Insurance marketing director John Kitson and director of customer management Brian Richards.

Norwich Union head of advertising Fiona Martin resigned during the pitch to relocate to the North-east for personal reasons.

McCann Erickson had held the account since 2000, following the merger between Norwich Union and CGU to create the UK’s largest insurer. In 2002, it lost the Norwich Union Direct business to AMV, which is responsible for the “quote me happy” campaign.

Norwich Union has since rebranded its global operations as Aviva but has retained the Norwich Union name in the UK.