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Clemenger BBDO wins New Zealand Defence Force account—UPDATED

StopPress understands that the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has appointed Clemenger BBDO to its creative account, ending its agency-of-record partnership with Saatchi & Saatchi (however, Saatchi will continue working with the client on the Force Fit app). 

A source has revealed to StopPress that the NZDF reviewed its business as part of its government obligation to do so every few years.

NZDF then put out a request for proposal, which led to a number of agencies coming forward.

StopPress understands that DDB, FCB, Saatchi & Saatchi, Clemenger BBDO, GSL Promotus and Y&R all expressed initial interest in the account (although some of these agencies pulled out part of the way through).

The loss of this account will be a blow to Saatchi & Saatchi, which earlier this year also parted company with Tui.


Source: Nielsen AIS rate card figures. 

Saatchi has produced some innovative work for NZDF over the last few years, with one of the standout examples being the ‘Force Fit’ app.  

More recently, Saatchi’s work has been focused on showcasing the NZDF as an organisation that does more than engage in war.

StopPress approached Saatchi for comment on whether the loss of the account had led to any redundancies at the agency, but we are yet to receive a reply.   

Update:

Saatchi & Saatchi sent through the following statement this afternoon:

“Unfortunately we were not successful in the recent tender process run by NZDF for their recruitment advertising. However, we will continue to work with NZDF on the ongoing development of the Force Fit programme – the fitness app we created and launched for them in 2014. Off the back of a number of new business wins in the early part of 2016, we are hoping the impact on the agency will be minimal.” 

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