Heart charity opts for AMV after review

The British Heart Foundation has handed Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO its 1.5m advertising account, following a review out of TBWA GGT Simons Palmer.

AMV pitched against Partners BDDH and BMP DDB for the business.

British Heart Foundation director of communications, Maxine Smith, called the review following the merger of incumbent TBWA Simons Palmer with GGT.

The merger created a clash between the charity account, which has been with Simons Palmer for eight years, and GGT’s Rothmans business. At the time of the merger she said the clash represented a “breach of contract”.

The merger also led to a review of Marston’s 2m ad account, held by TBWA Simons Palmer, as it created a conflict with GGT’s John Smith’s Bitter account (MW May 28).

More recently, East Midlands Electricity has called a review of its 2m account, originally held by GGT, as it clashed with TBWA Simons Palmer’s Centrica business (MW July 2).

However, most observers comment that the merger of the two Omnicom-owned agencies created a minimum of client conflicts.

Smith says the charity’s campaign will continue to focus on the prevention of heart disease.

Media buying remains with Manning Gottlieb Media.