Banks Hoggins O’Shea FCB faces review of £2m Virgin Interactive

Video games publisher Virgin Interactive is reviewing its £2m advertising business out of Banks Hoggins O’Shea FCB. Virgin Interactive publishes games for PlayStation, Dreamcast and PC.

Video games publisher Virgin Interactive is reviewing its &£2m advertising business out of Banks Hoggins O’Shea FCB.

Virgin Interactive publishes games for PlayStation, Dreamcast and PC. Its games include Resident Evil 2, Earthworm Jim and Carmageddon. The company was bought in October last year by Paris-based company Titus Interactive.

The decision to review the account has been made by Virgin Interactive European vice-president of marketing Sean Ratcliffe, who joined from EA Sports in January.

Virgin Interactive has used Banks Hoggins O’Shea for four years. The review is understood to include media, which is also handled by Banks Hoggins O’Shea.

The Advertising Agency Register is thought to be handling the review, although no official shortlist has been drawn up.

Bank Hoggins O’Shea managing director Sven Olsen says: I am not too concerned over the review as we have built Virgin Interactive as the strongest gaming franchise in the industry.”

No one from Virgin Interactive was available to comment as Marketing Week went to press.

Ratcliffe replaced JP Sanchez who left last year to join New International’s News Network as marketing director of entertainment auction site Firedup.com, which launched earlier this year.