EXCLUSIVE: It is expected an announcement is imminent on Unilever's $53 million local media buying account, with all signs pointing to Mindshare as the winner of the review.
The industry has been waiting with bated breath for the decision on a global review of Unilever's media, with the Australian market an area of hot contention.
The two primary contenders in the Australian industry have been PHD and Mindshare, although it is understood Initiative was also involved in earlier stages.
While Mindshare has retained the media planning and buying account locally, it is understood that on an international level PHD has won the global planning portion of the business, as reported earlier in the year.
Mindshare won the Unilever account at the beginning of last year, but the win was soured shortly afterwards when a global review was called.
While planning has been consolidated on a global level with PHD, the buying portion of the account has been decided on a market-by-market basis, while AdNews understands a local planning element will still sit with Mindshare.
Unilever's estimated main media spend in Australia was $53.2 million in the year to June 2012, down from $75.1 million in the prior period.
Unilever, Mindshare and PHD could not be reached for comment at the time of writing.
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