Italian small appliance maker De’Longhi Group has appointed AFFINITY to its $4 million Australian media account, following a three-way pitch against multinational agencies.

Besides De’Longhi, the group owns the Kenwood and Braun household appliances brands.

The two teams have immediately commenced working together, with AFFINITY to manage strategy and buying across all forms of media for all of De’ Longhi Group’s brands.

De’Longhi Group marketing director Raniero Miccoli said: “Clearly data is a major talking point in any agency selection, but for us it is important to link that to innovative thinking.

“AFFINITY demonstrated that their approach generates creative data solutions that will work.

“We feel this approach, combined with AFFINITY’s curiosity for our business and their cultural fit, makes them the ideal partner for us. We are looking forward to a fruitful working relationship.”

AFFINITY chief executive Luke Brown said: “The team at De’Longhi expressed a desire in the pitch to do things differently, and immediately started working collaboratively with us to approach their challenges in a different way.

“We are privileged at the access to data, the transparency with results, and the open communication that De’ Longhi has entrusted with us.

“In an age of so-called disruption, there are many clients asking to be different, but few who are allowed or brave enough to pursue genuinely new ways of tackling business problems.”