AdNews wraps up the biggest pitch news and wins from the month.
Howatson+Company takes Myer creative and production accounts
Australian department store Myer has appointed Howatson+Company lead creative and production agency following a market evaluation.
This marks the conclusion of partnerships with incumbents Clemenger BBDO, which has held the account for 15 years, and Hogarth.
Howatson+Company was chosen for its strategic excellence, creative innovation, and forward-thinking operating model, the brand said.
Top ten advertiser Optus is pitching its creative account.
The telecommunications company's current agency roster includes Emotive and M&C Saatchi’s bespoke offering Yes Agency.
The pitch will run alongside the media review which was announced last year.
Special wins Warner Bros. Discovery pitch to launch Max
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has appointed Special, following a competitive pitch, to lead the launch of streaming platform Max in Australia.
The shortlist is understood to have included DDB, Clemenger BBDO and Emotive.
Special, as creative agency of record, will be working across brand strategy, advertising, earned media and content.
Richards Rose extends Mitsubishi account
Mitsubishi has reappointed incumbent Richards Rose to a long-term agreement, extending the partnership that started in July 2016.
Mitsubishi Motors Australia (MMAL) was a key foundation client for Richards Rose, founded by Digby Richards and Adam Rose.
Since then, MMAL and Richards Rose have won six Effies, the most of any automotive manufacturer in Australia.
Match & Wood wins Renault pitch
Match & Wood has won the media planning and buying account for Renault Group in a competitive pitch.
The account, previously held by OMD, will transition in April.
The French automotive brand has been selling cars for more than125 years and has been present in Australia since 1947 and has a national footprint of 57 Dealers.
Nunn Media wins Neilson Financial Services pitch
Neilson Financial Services has appointed Nunn Media to manage its media strategy, planning and buying after a competitive pitch.
A global business with offices in the US, Canada, Ireland, Australia and the UK, Neilson Financial Services is expanding its presence in Australia with a new suite of products, including Golden Insurance, Dignity Insurance, and Direct Cover.
Nunn Media will oversee media investment for these brands, supporting a series of launches that began in January.
Sunday Gravy wins Sorbent pitch
Paper products company Sorbent has appointed independent creative agency Sunday Gravy following a competitive pitch.
The incumbent, Akkomplice, was appointed lead strategic and creative partner in 2022 after a competitive pitch.
Thinkerbell wins Leukaemia Foundation pitch
Independent creative agency Thinkerbell has been appointed as the lead agency for the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave 2025, after a competitive pitch.
The Leukaemia Foundation will now work to an integrated model with Thinkerbell providing media services alongside additional creative support for the charity’s flagship fundraising event.
Prior to the pitch, The Leukaemia Foundation developed the platform “That’s Bloody Beautiful”. As part of its first assignment, Thinkerbell has worked with The Leukaemia Foundation to bring the 2025 World’s Greatest Shave campaign to life.
Jack Link’s appoints Special and Hatched
Meat snacks brand Jack Link’s has appointed Special Australia and Hatched as their new creative and media agencies following a competitive pitch process.
Special will deliver Jack Link’s brand campaign in Australia and New Zealand in collaboration with Hatched who will plan brand and retail connections across the full customer journey.
HR software company Deputy has appointed 72andSunny.
Deputy, founded in Australia in 2008, is a global tech platform that helps businesses, in particular those with shift workers, with rostering, timesheets and HR.
72andSunny will develop the company’s first ATL advertising campaign which will launch in April. The platform has previously managed all advertising in-house and sought an agency as it looks to accelerate growth and defend market share against competitors.
Wonderful Digital wins Oxford University Press
Wonderful Digital has been appointed agency partner for Oxford University Press (OUP) Australia and New Zealand to deliver a remit spanning customer experience (CX), brand platform development and performance media.
Wonderful Digital will focus on localising OUP’s brand platform, improving the customer journey by integrating data-driven insights and optimising performance media strategies.
Born wins Love to Dream and launches campaign
Australian-born baby and toddler sleep brand Love to Dream has unveiled its latest brand campaign 'Sleep Like a Baby' developed with creative agency Born.
The new creative platform focuses beyond babies, to acknowledge the vital connection between infant and parent sleep.
Nibble Edge wins Unilever Food Solutions
Nibble Edge has been awarded the digital account for Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) for Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) across core brands Knorr, Hellmann’s, Continental and Carte D’Or.
The agency will provide full-service digital marketing support, supporting Unilever’s foodservice operations on creative and content, automation and paid media campaigns.
The Australian Football League has engaged 72andSunny to launch the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.
72andSunny are tasked with developing a new brand campaign that will inform the league’s activity in 2025, starting with the season's Opening Round.
The goal, through advertising, social media and media partnerships, is to invite new audiences into the game - in particular younger and CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) audiences.
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