National Savings has suspended its contract with HHCL & Partners
and has appointed Walsh Trott Chick Smith to a ’caretaker’ role on its
account while it carries out a full-scale marketing review.
National Savings is understood to want a smaller agency to handle up to
pounds 2 million worth of tactical advertising in the period leading up
to the pitch for its pounds 9 million account early next year.
HHCL was appointed to relaunch National Savings in September 1995 and
created the concept of ’virtual shops’ in five national newspapers
featuring products and services on offer.
But a National Savings spokesperson said this week that, with the
newspaper contracts due to expire at the end of October, there was no
need for HHCL’s input between now and next year’s pitch.