Media Release
28 March 2007

Advertising agency contract put out to pitch

Vodafone is reviewing its advertising agency contract and has invited a number of industry players to participate with an RFP being issued in the next few days.

Following an extensive benchmarking process over the past two months, Vodafone has narrowed the field for the RFP to include: Colenso, JWT and Ogilvy.

Vodafone’s incumbent agency Lowe will not be part of the RFP process.

“Our agency requirements have moved considerably since the last time we reviewed our relationship with Lowe some two years ago. With the change in focus this year for our brand and stronger focus on retail, we felt we needed a fresh perspective.” says Craig Herbison, Vodafone GM of Brand & Communications

“Lowe is an exceptional brand agency who has played a significant part in building the Vodafone brand to where it is today. We have had a very productive and good relationship.”

“This is not purely a creative pitch – it is as much to determine whether the agencies are capable of working with and meeting the needs of a brand like Vodafone as we evolve our business moving forward.”

Herbison says the pitch process will explore each agency’s capabilities, their ability to work with a global brand at a local level and will consider how the agencies relate to the Vodafone culture.

The pitch does not affect Draft who will continue to work with Vodafone as its DM agency.

The pitch will be completed by end April 2007.

ENDS