Compaq appoints FCB to £188m global brief

Compaq Computers has handed its £188m global creative account to Foote, Cone & Belding Worldwide (FCB).

Compaq spends about £13m on corporate branding in the UK, which will now be handled by Banks Hoggins O’Shea.FCB.

FCB won the business after a pitch against agencies believed to include Young & Rubicam and J Walter Thompson’s US divisions, and incumbent DDB Worldwide (DDB).

DDB was appointed in June 1998, after the account was stripped from Ammirati Puris Lintas.

Banks Hoggins chairman John Banks says: “It is a first-class company and we are are delighted that we can help drive its business, in the UK especially.”

Compaq’s £15m UK direct marketing account remains with Claydon Heeley Jones Mason.

FCB lost the £60m global account for computing group 3Com to Lowe Lintas & Partners last month, although the agency held on to the £500,000 UK business for Palm hand-held computers.

Compaq is the world’s biggest PC manufacturer, but the company intends to position itself as a leading worldwide supplier of Internet access and services.

Compaq vice-president of integrated marketing communications Gary Elliott says: “FCB has the strategic understanding, creative firepower and global breadth needed to develop our advertising.

“One of our top priorities was to identify an agency that is at the edge of the Net revolution. FCB has shown the ability to develop brands across borders and channels.”