PHD Wins Massive $3 Billion Volkswagen Media Assignment

by @mp_mcclellan, June 13, 2016

PHD, part of Omnicom Media Group, has been selected to handle Volkswagen’s massive $3 billion global media account after a review that began 13 months ago. 

The primary incumbent was WPP’s MediaCom, which has handled the bulk of the assignment for nearly 20 years, adding the U.S. in 2005 when it was selected over then-incumbent MPG (now Havas Media). 

The review included all VW’s brands, including the flagship nameplate Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Porsche, Bentley, Seat as well as the company’s commercial vehicles division. PHD had previously handled just the Porsche business. 

The pitch was led out of PHD Worldwide’s London office by Global CEO Mike Cooper. In the U.S., where the client spends an estimated $600-$700 million on ads annually, the OMG unit that currently handles Porsche will now take on the expanded VW portfolio.     

PHD has been on a roll in recent months, winning both Delta Airlines and Carnival Cruise lines. Last year it won the global GlaxoSmithKline account and added global search to its big Unilever assignment, which includes global communications planning and a number of regional planning and buying chores. 

Parent OMG is also on a tear — it recently created new agency Hearts & Science to service its recently won Procter & Gamble account. And OMD, also part of the group, won big in the recent Sony review, winning the biggest chunk of the global entertainment business. 

 

MediaPost.com: Search Marketing Daily

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