Heineken appoints StrawberryFrog

The Amsterdam agency emerged successful after going head to head against McCann Erickson. WCRS had been knocked off the shortlist at an earlier stage.

StrawberryFrog already has a working relationship with the beer brand.

Earlier this year, it beat Wieden & Kennedy Amsterdam to the task of producing idents for Heineken's sponsorship of the Uefa Champions' League.

Heineken decided to review its global advertising in June. W&K, the incumbent, pulled out of the pitch later that month. The review was handled by Agency Insight.

StrawberryFrog will take responsibility for global campaigns. Domestic work, such as that produced by Clemmow Hornby Inge for the UK market, will continue to be handled by local agencies.

Heineken UK appointed Iain Newell marketing director earlier this year.

This followed the departure of Leslie Meredith, who had spent three years in the role.

Heineken announced in February that it would boost its global marketing spend by £70 million in response to a 32.7 per cent drop in profits between 2003 and 2004.

That month, it launched a campaign starring John Travolta, produced by W&K, which ran in 20 countries. The ad followed earlier work featuring the Hollywood stars Ray Liotta and Brad Pitt.

This article was first published on Campaign