Walker wins Georgian investment agency work

The Georgian National Investment Agency (GNIA) has appointed Walker Media to handle its £3m global media planning and buying business. It is thought that the agency won the business without a pitch.

The GNIA is the department of the Georgian Government responsible for promoting foreign investment in the country. It is launching a campaign this week that challenges the perception of Georgia by comparing its economy with countries such as Britain, Japan and Hong Kong.

The TV, print and online campaign, which features the strapline “And the winner is Georgia”, has been created by M&C Saatchi subsidiary IS.

Walker Media is also working on a series of forums to promote the country’s credentials to international investors and is producing a global advertiser funded programme which will provide content for a series of location reports.

Walker Media managing partner Simon Davis says: “GNIA has a tremendous story to tell and we’re pleased to be working with them at this exciting stage in the country’s development.”

Walker Media chairman Christine Walker announced her retirement from the agency at the start of this month, as first revealed on marketingweek.co.uk. She will hand over the leadership of the agency to chief executive Phil Georgiadis at the end of June.

Walker and Georgiadis founded Walker Media in 1997 with M&C, which now owns 75% of the agency – up from its initial 46%.