News International Puts Buying Account Up For Grabs

News International (NI) has announced a review of its media buying arrangements, inviting Carat, the incumbent agency who have worked on the NI account for almost a decade, to pitch for the business alongside other candidates.

Commenting on the changes, Richard Webb, News Group Newspapers (NGN) general manager, said: “Carat have served us well during the last five years, but for corporate and commercial reasons, we feel the time has come to review our options in order to ensure that our media planning and buying remain as competitive as possible.”

The AAR are being used to manage the pitching process, after their successful management of the NGN creative review, which was finalised last week with the appointment of Eiro RSCG.

The agency chosen to deal with the NI account will need to handle a varied brief, focusing mainly on television and radio, but also incorporating all elements of the marketing mix including posters, online and planning.

Last month Carat, announced the appointment of Dominic Williams to the newly-created position of press director after a three month selection process including both internal and external candidates (seeWilliams Signs As New Carat Press Director).

In the role he will be responsible for developing Carat’s press buying capability, negotiating press agency deals, building relationships with print media owners and being an industry figurehead for Carat’s press expertise.

Neil Jones was appointed managing director of Carat last month, filling the shoes of Colin Mills, who left the post earlier this year with no new role to go to (seeNeil Jones Appointed MD Of Carat).

Carat: 020 7430 6000 www.carat.com News International Limitedwww.newsint.co.uk