First big win for new Clemenger Sydney ECDs, Paul Nagy and Michael Spirkovski, as the agency picks up the $50 million Virgin Blue account
Clemenger BBDO Sydney has picked up the Virgin Blue account, which is estimated to be worth $50 million in billings. It’s the first major account win for new ECDs, Paul Nagy and Michael Spirkovski, who took over from Richard Maddocks in mid-June.
The account, which covers Virgin Blue, V Australia, Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue airlines, has been with SapientNitro for the past 11 years. SapientNitro pitched for the account along with BMF and DDB, while Droga5 and BWM dropped out of the race.
CB hears Clemenger BBDO first heard about the news after reading aboutit on the AdNews web site as they were about to join president and CEOof BBDO Worldwide Andrew Robertson at a company-wide function. Thisleft them scrambling to call the client to confirm the good news. Italso comes as BBDO takes a majority share in the agency in a moveannounced today.
Earlier this month, Virgin Blue appointed Sydney brand and identitydesigner Hans Hulsbosch as creative director overseeing thetransformation of the Virgin Blue brand, which will include the Group’snew livery and corporate identity.
Nagy told CB: “To win an airline boasting one of the most exciting brands on earth is a huge thrill. Mike and I are hugging more than usual and looking forward to going to work. The whole agency is buzzing. Exciting times.”
30 Comments
Sounds like the agency-client relationship is off to a tip-top start.
Congrats Paul and Michael!
Jim S.
i heard their planes are unsafe
nice one boys
Dawso made the difference.
Still got IT.
Bond!
Congrats Mike and Paul good news.
So were last week’s redundancies ill conceived?
oh well… there goes virgins advertising?
Those redundancies were about saying goodbye to old rotting debris.
$50 mil?
Yes, i’m constantly bomarded by Virgin messages.
12 months
tough times ahead for clems. this client is worse than vodafone. watch this space.
One of the best bits of creative on Virgin Blue did was the voice recording when you were on hold.
‘…For job opportunities, press 6… But if you’re inquiring about the Voice Over roll, forget it. It’s taaaaken.’
Good Luck!
“Those redundancies were about saying goodbye to old rotting debris.”
Ha ha… there is plenty of decomposed debris left
One of the single toughest clients in Aus.
Droga simply couldn’t bear the obsession with constant churn retail. Couldn’t be arsed to handle them.
I hope the lads are ready. No creative here.
The fact that they only realised they’d won the business by reading AdNews is dodgy to say the least. Not a great start on Virgin’s part – pretty much sets the tone of things to come no doubt. Still, well done Clems.
A few posts have been mysteriously pulled since yesterday.
I hope the pitch procedure was, how shall I say, fair?
A few agencies went for this.
Would hate to think anything untoward went down.
Well done Sydney brothers and sisters!
11:39
Got some insider info? Because from what I heard there was a clear winner and it wasn’t your agency.
I hate this ad. It sucks. It’s been done before.
Oh, wait, it’s not an ad story.
Well, I hate airplanes then. Airbus clearly copied Boeing. You guys all suck.
Well done, Clems.
I’ve never done any work for Virgin, however, the fact that the agencies pitching found out if they were successful or not by reading the trade press probably says a lot about them.
Appalling and disrespectful, to say the least.
Ryan and Chuey will kick arse on Virgin
That room you boys are sitting in looks like a cheap, short-time hotel.
It’s one thing Telstra being a shit client, but it’s an utter crime when Virgin are. Those people will drive this brand into the ground.
‘Those redundancies were about saying goodbye to old rotting debris’.
What a grossly unfair (and untrue) statement.
Nice one, Paul!
With John Borghetti at the helm of Virgin it can only mean one thing for Clems: pain, pain, and more pain.
Those redundancies were about saying goodbye to old rotting debris’.
Pathetic and untrue statement by a coward hiding behind their anonymous status and a few too many beers.
Fact: most of the people let go had a big part in getting that pitch looking great and over the line.
10.22… Really? Anyone even the slightest bit grown up knows that you need retail accounts to keep your doors open. And retail obsession? Retail gets bums on seats matey. Now go and talk to your finance director and find out which accounts and projects are paying your salary. It aint the big brand ads.