Monster Euro review halted in favour of global pitch

Monster, the online recruitment site, is understood to have halted its 20m pan-European advertising review, in order to expand it into a global pitch.

Monster, the online recruitment site, is understood to have halted its £20m pan-European advertising review, in order to expand it into a global pitch.

It is thought that at least some of the agencies involved in the European pitch will be invited to pitch for the business. DDB, TBWA/London, McCann Erickson, JWT and 180 Amsterdam made it through to a third round of presentations. Incumbent Leo Burnett declined to be involved.

The rethink is said to have been prompted by chief executive Sal Iannuzzi, who took over in April. Last week he announced a programme of job cuts and slashing expenses by up to $170m (£84m) a year on the back of lower-than-expected earnings.

He replaced William Pastore, who was promoted to the chief executive role after the resignation of Andrew McKelvey in October last year, amid scandal concerning the back-dating of stock options. However, Pastore was unable to increase revenues in the US, which is thought to have been factored into extending the pitch into a global brief.

It is thought the majority of Monster’s US advertising is created in-house or with agencies selected on a project basis.

The pitch was called in May by Monster.co.uk marketing director Lisa Hutt, who left a month later to join Fish4. She was replaced by former Nectar marketer Richard Campbell last month.

Monster had previously worked with Leo Burnett on a project basis in the UK. It was appointed to handle above-the-line and digital advertising in 2005.