2m Molson for Mountain View

Scottish Courage is believed to have appointed Mountain View, the agency formerly known as Barker & Ralston, to handle the 2m advertising for Canadian lager brand Molson.

The Scottish brewer pulled its 2m advertising account for Molson out of Foote Cone & Belding in April, saying it wanted to reduce its roster agencies and that it had no immediate plans to advertise the brand. At about the same time it dropped McCann-Erickson Scotland from the Theakston brand and Court Burkitt & Company from the Coors account.

Scottish Courage now has a roster of six agencies – CDP, Young & Rubicam, M&C Saatchi, Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe and GGT Advertising, as well as Mountain View. It has invited all agencies to repitch for business following the merger of Scottish & Newcastle with Courage in 1995.

Barker & Ralston rebranded as Mountain View in July when it merged with management consultancy PDP International, following the dramatic loss of its 20m Abbey National business in February (MW February 21).

This is the first win for the rebranded agency, but existing clients of Barker & Ralston include wine brand Gallo and Beck’s Bier, another Scottish Courage brand. It is understood the brewer has pledged another 2m a year to support Beck’s, taking the spend through Mountain View to 6m.

Scottish Courage denies any decision has been made.