OMD tipped for £26m easyJet

OMD is poised to pick up easyJet’s &£26.5m European media planning and buying account.

The media business was put up to pitch last October after the Go brand, acquired by easyJet for &£374m in May, was phased out. OMD has been battling with Carat in the final stages to win the business. Carat is the parent company of easyJet incumbent BBJ Communications.

In the final stage, easyJet sales and marketing director David Magliano handed over responsibility for the pitch to commercial director Mike Cooper. Magliano has been promoted to director of strategic marketing (MW March 31). Cooper is handling day-to-day marketing for the airline while he serves an extended notice period. He tendered his resignation in February.

Earlier this month easyJet reported a &£48.1m loss for the period October to March. This compares with a pre-tax profit of &£1m for the same period in 2002. The airline has undergone rapid expansion by acquiring Go during what is a tough time for the airline and tourism industries.

The company is making 60 of its 400 senior and middle managers redundant following the full integration of Go.

Rival airline Ryanair referred an easyJet press advertisement to the Advertising Standards Authority last week, saying the ad features false claims in the wording “Lowest fares to the sun”.