Barclaycard names Iris as lead DM agency

Barclaycard has appointed Iris to be its lead direct marketing agency to help reinforce the company’s position as the leading payment provider in the UK.

The appointment follows a pitch led by Gary Twelvetree, who handles Barclaycard’s brand, sponsorship and advertising activities globally, and UK marketing director Katherine Whitton.

It comes shortly after Barclaycard announced its is to hire 50 new marketers to work on new customer loyalty and payment initiatives.

Iris will work across both the commercial and consumer businesses of Barclaycard and alongside the Barclaycard core agency team of Bartle Bogle Hegarty, Walker Media and Dare.

Vital will also continue with its role on the agency roster.

Whitton says: “Iris showed great understanding of what we are looking to achieve in this market, as a leading payment provider, and the exciting challenges ahead. In return the agency has shared with us some compelling insights into their area of expertise and extremely powerful creative solutions which will help drive our innovation programme. We look forward to launching these new solutions in the future.”

Barclaycard signed up to sponsor the Mercury Music Prize earlier this year in a four-year-deal, taking over from Nationwide. The company is keen to further its associations with music.

Meanwhile, iris Experience has been appointed to work on a range of premium ready meals launching in 2010 from Kerry Foods.

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