DDB retains prized Volkswagen account after three-way pitch against Host and Droga5
DDB Australia has retained the prized Volkswagen account after a three-way pitch against Host and Droga5.
The global account has been with DDB since 1959 but DDB Australia would have been worried after VW in New Zealand switched from DDB New Zealand to Colenso BBDO in September, 2013.
In addition to passenger vehicles, DDB Sydney will also take on Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles as well as the Škoda brand.
Says VW Passenger Vehicle GM of marketing, Ben Wilks: “We are pleased to continue our long-term relationship with DDB. It was a difficult decision due to the impressive calibre of the pitching agencies, however DDB provided the best fit for our business.”
Adds Ralph Beckmann, Volkswagen commercial vehicle marketing manager: “We were very impressed with the thorough research and insights that all of the agencies presented. Working with DDB Sydney will open up a lot of exciting opportunities for collaboration with our sister brands within the Volkswagen Group.”
Says Škoda Australia marketing manager, Madeleine Kjessler: “We believe there is a massive opportunity in Australia for the Škoda brand and we look forward to working with DDB to create exciting and memorable new campaigns in the future.”
11 Comments
Droga just can’t catch a break, can they?
Nice one DDB.
The latest VW ads are horrible.
im guessing Droga will now stop staffing up for this account then?
Well done DDBoomers.
If there’s anything to take out of this, it’s that Host is the agency to watch this year.
first Pizza hut, then toohey’s now nearly VW…
Yeah but the creative product isn’t very good. There structure makes for an interesting proposition and they’re incredibly smart no doubt, but I’m yet to see it convert into actual great work. As in really great. Fair comment? Maybe post something which suggests otherwise and I’ll happily stand corrected.
Spunk the cash in freelancers for the pitch then do the work yourself.
They did great work when they were associated with Glue Society.
Of course they did great work, that’s because the creative was handed to Glue Society, which exposes a flaw in a system that doesn’t cultivate creative from within but farms it out: it means you are at the mercy of your budget in terms of what calibre of creative you can employ.
They may be good at account service, but the Pizza Hut win is not that massive because it’s not a high-spending client, as M&C would attest. And, honestly, “now nearly” wining DDB as a sign of hotness, dave? – that’s stretching things. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not heaping shit on Host, at all – just keeping it in perspective.
At the end of the day, Host just can’t compete against a multinational agency who will drop all their fees and do the work for free for a few years.
Held the Skoda account for years. That’s the end of that then. New wins being announced but seems a lot is walking out the door. Michelle Bridges, now Skoda.. Interesting.