Axa shortlists four for media business

Insurance and investment giant Axa has shortlisted four agencies to compete for its £12m UK media planning and buying business. OMD will pitch against Carat, Media Planning Group and Mindshare in a review handled by Creative Brief.

A decision is expected in the summer. OMD Connect, part of the Omnicom-owned media group currently handles the business.

Axa is rethinking its agency arrangements as it pursues a shift in business strategy following the appointment of chief executive Nicolas Moreau and UK marketing chief Olivier Mariee last year.

The company’s creative duties are handled by Grey Australia. It won the UK business in 2005 having already worked for the French insurance giant in the US.