Saatchi & Saatchi is set to win the Jim Beam local creative account following Beam Suntory’s split from The Works last year.
The move is part of a wider Publicis alignment with Jim Beam with Leo Burnett Chicago winning the global creative in 2016.
Leo Burnett Sydney was barred from picking up the account due to its conflicting relationship with Diageo, which owns rival Captain Morgan and other alcohol brand. Instead, Publicis has placed the account at another agency within its network.
Beam Suntory tells AdNews Saatchi and Saatchi is the "preferred" agency locally but nothing official confirmed as yet.
The Works parted ways with the company last November ending a 14 year relationship after a decision to align the brand globally.
The independent agency previously worked on Beam Suntory brands, including Jim Beam and Canadian Club. AdNews understands the Canadian Club account is still up for pitch.
It was a significant loss for The Works which had grown its local duties into the role of lead creative agency globally.
During the partnership, the independent agency was recognised with multiple Australian Effie Awards, including the Grand Effie for Canadian Club in 2015, in addition to an international Effie for Jim Beam in 2013.
The Works was behind the successful Over Beer? campaign
The Works introduced Mila Kunis as a global ambassador for the Jim Beam brand in 2014, with several ads starring the actress released in the last three years.
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