Abbey Nat hands TBWA £18m win

Abbey National has appointed TBWA/London to its &£18m advertising account following a five-way pitch, which included the incumbent Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper.

Each agency was given 48 hours to prepare a brief and they all pitched on the same day. TBWA/London was appointed 24 hours later.

The decision does not affect Abbey National’s media agency, Carat, or its direct marketing agency, WWAV Rapp Collins, but the bank does not rule out a further review. “We’re reviewing all aspects of marketing, but it does not mean there will be a change,” says a company spokesman.

The creative pitch was overseen by Abbey National chief executive Luqman Arnold.

The company’s top marketing position is vacant, following an organisational restructure in February, when retail marketing director Janet Connor was moved sideways to a customer sales role (MW March 4).

TBWA/London will continue to work for its existing financial services client, Royal Bank of Scotland’s The One Account, despite a potential conflict of interest with its work for Abbey National. A spokesman for The One Account says: “We understand TBWA has won a new piece of business, but it does not mean we will automatically review.”

TBWA will be repitching for insurance company AXA UK’s advertising business, on which it is the incumbent, after discussions with the client.