Yell pitch drags on as VCCP loses out

Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest (VCCP) looks to be out of the running
for Yell’s 20m advertising account, leaving Mother in pole position to
scoop the business.

However, mystery still surrounds the final outcome of the protracted
review amid rum…

Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest (VCCP) looks to be out of the running for Yell’s 20m advertising account, leaving Mother in pole position to scoop the business.

However, mystery still surrounds the final outcome of the protracted review amid rumours of a rethink by the directory publisher’s management team.

It has been suggested that incumbent Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO, which has handled the business for 23 years, is trying to resolve the conflict with BT that originally triggered the review.

Sources have also claimed that digital agency AKQA is in line to pick up at least some of the above-the-line account after producing strong work for Yell.com.

Yell called the review in April but it was thrown into chaos when chief marketing officer Ann Francke left in July (MW July 20). Former head of marketing strategy and communications Catherine Kehoe is now running the pitch along with Yell chief executive John Condron.

Kehoe is tipped to take over from Francke as the company’s marketing chief (MW August 10), although it is not yet clear whether she will be given Francke’s chief marketing officer title. Some sources suggest she will initially be made the non-board level marketing director.

Mother and VCCP have been competing head on for the account since United London, Wieden & Kennedy, Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy and Leagas Delaney were eliminated at an earlier stage.

Yell, Mother and VCCP refused to comment on the pitch situation.