Iris triumphs in pitch for 8m VW integrated marketing business

Iris has scooped the Volkswagen commercial vehicles integrated marketing business, estimated to be worth £8m.

The pitch was run by Agency Assessments and other agencies involved are thought to include DDB, RLA and Dye Holloway Murray.

Ruby, the direct marketing arm of The Red Brick Road, is believed to have been handed some of the CRM business.
Volkswagen and Iris both declined to comment on the appointment.

Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Simon Elliott oversaw the pitch.

The commercial vehicles account has previously been handled by regional agencies but Volkswagen is keen to develop an overarching marketing strategy. DDB handles the majority of Volkswagen consumer marketing.

DDB recently created a television campaign for the new Volkswagen Golf that drew a barrage of complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority for depicting excessive violence. The ad showed the car marque’s chief designer fighting several doppelgangers of himself in a Matrix-style martial arts face-off.

Volkswagen appointed Gen Outdoor to handle its £20m outdoor planning and buying account last November.

The appointment of Iris takes place against a background of falling car sales in both the consumer and commercial markets. Volkswagen’s sales volumes dropped 9% for the 12 months to December last year on the previous year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.