HHCL defeats two to land 3m BAA account
Airport operator BAA is understood to have awarded its 3m advertising account to HHCL & Partners, after a three-way pitch between Ogilvy & Mather and Publicis.
Bates Dorland, which had held the account for ten years, pulled out of the contest in October.
The appointment comes at a time of upheaval for BAA, which faces the abolition of duty-free as early as next year. The move could wipe some 30m off its profits.
As a result, the company is looking to diversify. In June it launched the 440m Heathrow Express service and last year it acquired Duty Free International in the US, now called World Duty Free Americas.
BAA is also looking to expand in Australia and group retail marketing director Barbara Beckett’s remit has recently been changed to focus more on international business development.
The company owns and operates seven UK airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.
