After a surprising decision to split with Virgin Mobile, Sydney ad agency Host has won the creative duties for the larger telco Vodafone.
Host, which pulled out from Virgin Mobile’s review after working on the business for almost ten years in order to take part in the Vodafone pitch, beat out competition from George Patterson Y&R Sydney and Happy Soldiers to win the business.
Vodafone Hutchison Australia issued a statement: “Vodafone Hutchison Australia (VHA) today announced the appointment of Host as its lead creative agency for the Vodafone brand. VHA will commence its new creative relationship with Host on March 1, 2010.
“Host will be supported by Moon Communications Group, who will manage the retail creative strategy for Vodafone and 3 stores. Moon Communications Group will continue to manage the full creative output for the 3 mobile brand.”
Host CEO Anthony Freedman was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.
The decision brings to an end a turbulent period for Vodafone’s creative agency arrangements. The telco launched its latest creative review at the start of December last year following a raft of agency changes across the Vodafone and 3 brands that were prompted by the announcement that Vodafone would merge with Hutchison earlier in the year.
When VHA announced its current review, incumbent Clemenger BBDO resigned the Vodafone creative account after being faced with re-pitching for the business for the third time in just over a year.
In August last year Ikon was awarded the $55 million media planning and buying business for VHA.
