Abbey National has appointed Jackie Cooper PR in preparation for
the launch of its internet banking service, Aquarius, next spring.
The contract, with fees predicted to exceed six figures, was awarded
after a two-tier pitching process, including Burson-Marsteller and QBO
in the first round, before becoming a direct battle between Jackie
Cooper PR and Manning Selvage and Lee in the second round.
’Banking is a commodity-driven marketplace,’ said Robert Phillips,
founding partner of Jackie Cooper PR. ’Our challenge will be to position
the brand above the competition. The challenge is all the greater in the
interactive arena, where there is a lot of interest, investment and
creative thought.’
Aquarius will aim to compete with rival on-line banking brands such as
Prudential’s Egg, HFC’s Marbles and a separately-branded internet bank
to come from Lloyds TSB.
The agency will report to Tim Sawyer, who has eight years’ experience at
Abbey National and recently moved to become business development and
marketing director for Aquarius. It will also liaise with the Abbey
National internal communications team, headed by corporate affairs
director Nick Chaloner.
’We have appointed Jackie Cooper PR on a wide-ranging brief to prepare
the groundwork for the launch,’ commented Sawyer.
Last month (PR Week, 29 October), Abbey National appointed Citigate Dewe
Rogerson to handle its financial PR.
- Jackie Cooper PR has also been appointed on six-figure fees by
pan-European home entertainment company Boxman.com. With a brief to
handle on- and off-line brand building, the agency will work for Mark Le
Goy, marketing director of Boxman UK. Boxman.com has sites in seven
European countries selling CDs, videos and computer games.
