GGT scoops John Smith’s and close to Cadbury win

GGT is understood to have picked up two major pieces of business this week, including Scottish Courage’s 3m John Smith’s bitter account. It is also tipped to win Cadbury’s Wispa and Cadbury’s Dairy Milk – worth an estimated 3m.

Courage is believed to have handed GGT the John Smith’s account without a pitch. The company has been without an agency for John Smith’s since the brand’s incumbent BMP.DDB Needham resigned all its Courage business to allow it take on the Budweiser account.

The win will strengthen GGT’s grip on the Scottish Courage roster, as it already holds the account for Holsten. It has been suggested that GGT’s use of US comedian Dennis Leary in its campaign for Holsten stood it in good stead for the John Smith’s account, which uses another comedian, Jack Dee. The move would tie up one of the loose ends left by the resignation of Courage business by BMP. Courage has appointed M&C Saatchi to the account for Courage Best, and the agency has picked up some project work for Foster’s.

Cadbury has been looking for an agency for the past two weeks for all the brands previously handled by Bartle Bogle Hegarty, which resigned the account after unreconcilable differences. Neither Cadbury’s Dairy Milk nor Wispa have a recorded advertising spend, according to Register-MEAL.

The move could lead to Cadbury’s other roster agency EURO RSCG Wnek Gosper picking up the remaining BBH business from Cadbury. This would include brands Roses, Boost, Picnic and Buttons.

GGT refused to comment, and Courage and Cadbury staff were unavailable as Marketing Week went to press.