NatWest puts marketing suppliers under spotlight

NatWest is reviewing all of its marketing suppliers, including BBH which handles 24.5m above-the-line advertising.

A NatWest spokesman says the internal review is part of a “statutory” six-month audit of suppliers’ performance. “The review includes an examination of the agencies performance with other clients,” he says.

He adds that if the agencies are found to be deficient, others will be asked to pitch for the business.

Six months ago, the review resulted in PPHN (which later changed its name to Touch) losing the account to DMB&B Financial.

NatWest director of marketing, Raoul Pinnell, had asked BBH to pitch against CIA Medianetwork for the media buying, which BBH won.

NatWest’s media buying is now held by BBH’s renamed media dependant, Motive Communications.

Sources say there will be particular scrutiny on direct marketing.