Time Computers hands £30m account to HHCL

Time Computers has handed HHCL & Partners the company’s &£30m advertising business following a review by its new marketing director Mike Phillipson.

The move will be a blow to Manchester-based BDH TBWA, which has had the business for more than two years and held on to it last year after a review. It is not known whether HHCL & Partners had to pitch against any other agencies.

Phillipson joined Time two weeks ago from First Direct, where he was head of brand communications. He reports to chief executive Dr Tarik Mohammed, who was previously responsible for marketing.

The switch to HHCL is likely to mean the end of Time’s most recent advertising campaign created by BDH TBWA, which featured Leonard Nimoy, Star Trek’s Mr Spock.

Time, owned by Burnley-based Granville Technology Group, is the UK’s biggest mail order PC company, with an annual turnover of &£100m. It is looking at setting up outlets in Europe.

CIA Manchester buys Time’s media and is understood not to be affected by the changes.