Sightsavers pitches media account

Sightsavers, the charity that aims to combat blindness in developing countries, is reviewing its media planning and buying account.

The incumbent, Starcom MediaVest, will repitch for the business alongside three other undisclosed agencies. The Publicis Groupe-owned agency has held the account for almost five years.

In January, Sightsavers appointed Sue Adams as its new head of marketing. She replaced Neil Thorns, who moved to the role of head of advocacy at the Catholic Agency For Overseas Development (CAFOD).

Adams joined from medical communications agency ScopeMedical and now oversees all marketing activity for the charity.

Sightsavers has several celebrity ambassadors including Gordon Ramsay, Joanna Lumley, former footballer Graeme Le Saux and US actress Debra Winger.

Last year, George Michael, Ewan McGregor, Michael Caine and Stephen Fry were among 24 celebrities to donate their glasses to Sightsavers’ Specs Appeal, to highlight the fact that 153 million people worldwide are in need of glasses. All glasses were listed on EBay.

Sightsavers works to combat blindness in developing countries, restoring sight through specialist treatment and eye care. It supports people who are irreversibly blind by providing education, counseling and training.

The charity has been in operation for over 50 years and now operates in over 30 countries.

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