CHI to launch conflict agency for Carphone Warehouse

CHI & Partners is understood to be launching a conflict agency to handle the advertising and media for The Carphone Warehouse. It comes just months after the agency launched a media planning and buying business to handle the mobile phone retailer’s account (MW January 16).

It is understood that the unnamed agency has been created to avoid conflict between Argos, also a CHI client, and Best Buy, the US retailer that acquired a 50% stake in Carphone Warehouse earlier this year and is understood to be considering a UK launch.

The agency is not expected to actively pitch for business or take on any other accounts at this stage. It is expected to use a similar Team WPP model to Enfatico, the agency set up to service the global Dell account.

Tim Alnutt, a partner of CHI & Partners Media, will move to the new agency as will a number of staff that work on both accounts but as yet it is unclear who will run it. It will be based near the main agency on Rathbone Place in London’s West End.

CHI & Partners Media also handles the £1m planning and buying account for Tiger Beer (MW December 6). The buying for the agency is handled through Mindshare via Group M. WPP Group bought a 49.9% stake in CHI last year (MW April 19, 2007).