Placemakers Joins JWT’s Stable of Leading Brands

Placemakers Joins JWT’s Stable of Leading Brands

Auckland, 20 January 2011 - JWT New Zealand announced today that it has won the prestigious account for PlaceMakers following a rigorous and highly contested pitch for the country’s largest DIY and building materials supplier.

PlaceMakers is the market leader in Trade and Serious DIY with a turnover of $950M, 74,000 product lines and employs over 2,500 people through 62 stores nationwide.

The CEO of PlaceMakers, John Beveridge says he is looking forward to working with the team at JWT.

“JWT shone through on several fronts including the all-round strategic ability of their team, their understanding of our business, and how PlaceMakers can connect with even more New Zealanders,” says Beveridge.

JWT’s Managing Director Simon Lendrum says he is thrilled at securing PlaceMakers and credits this to the strength of the agency’s planning expertise and strong focus on creative solutions built upon firm strategic foundations.

“This appointment was the perfect end to the year,” says Lendrum. “JWT performed well creatively in 2010, being one of only 4 NZ agencies bringing back awards from Cannes, and the PlaceMakers appointment was a great validation of our strategic strengths. We’re looking forward to a busy and productive year with the PlaceMakers team”

Lendrum credits JWT’s Head of Planning, Jacqueline Smart, as the driving force behind the win. “Jacqs is our not-so-secret weapon – Account Planning is the voice of the consumer within an agency, and Jacqs understands New Zealanders deeply, but importantly she’s able to turn that knowledge into meaningful strategic advantage for our clients.”

For the PlaceMakers task JWT partnered with Twenty, one of New Zealand’s foremost direct marketing agencies. “They are a class act,” says Lendrum, “and one of a number of trusted partners that JWT collaborates with on a regular basis.”

ENDS

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