Euro loses £6m Clerical Medical…

Clerical Medical has parted company with Euro RSCG London after 17 years, as the investment group plans to switch its marketing budget into below-the-line activities. The account is worth is £5.6m

The account was initially with Partners BDDH, before the merger of the agency with Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper in 2003.

A spokeswoman for Clerical Medical says the decision comes as part of a wide-ranging review of the company’s marketing activities, triggered by fundamental legislative and regulatory changes affecting the life and pensions industry. These changes will be introduced over the next 18 months.

She adds: “As a result, we have decided to tactically realign our marketing activity and agencies accordingly. This means that we have decided amicably to end our long-standing relationship with Euro RSCG.”

Clerical Medical has no immediate plans to replace Euro RSCG with another above-the-line agency, says the spokeswoman, and instead has drawn up “a shortlist of alternative agencies that we will be speaking to over the next couple of weeks”.

Last year, Clerical Medical dropped its “vicar-and-doctor” married couple after three years, and introduced a new creative approach that focused on people relaxing and enjoying life while not having to worry about their investments.

Media buying, through Vizeum, is understood to be unaffected by the review.