AltaVista hires Claydon Heeley for below-the-line project

US-owned Internet search engine AltaVista is hiring Claydon Heeley Jones Mason for a one-off UK marketing project.

AltaVista appointed the agency – without a pitch – to develop a below-the-line campaign. It says the work does not affect the company’s relationship with Wieden & Kennedy (W&K), which handles above-the-line and branding work.

It is not known how much the below-the-line project is worth, or what form it will take. However, AltaVista is believed to have cut its marketing budget from the original &£6m launch figure, which was to be spent over an 18-month period.

An AltaVista spokeswoman says: “W&K is the retained agency. AltaVista sometimes appoints specialist agencies on a one-off basis, and Claydon Heeley is in the early stages of working on a project.”

Claydon Heeley vice-chairman Leo Campbell refused to elaborate on what the below-the-line work entails, or how much the project is worth.

AltaVista Europe also has dedicated sites in France, Germany and Sweden. AltaVista Europe launched with a &£30m ad push last year.