Nokia Mobile is reviewing its pounds 300,000 fee UK account as it
seeks to develop its corporate and brand image. Seven agencies,
including incumbent The Rowland Company, are competing for the
business.
Other agencies invited to pitch are The Red Consultancy, Bite, Text 100,
Burson-Marsteller, ICAS and Firefly. However, Nokia Mobile’s UK
marketing manager Alison Brolls denied that Nokia was holding the
pitch.
The loss of Nokia Mobile would be a blow to The Rowland Company which
lost the Nokia consumer electronics account in 1994 and has held the
mobile account since 1993.
The UK review follows Nokia’s decision to appoint Ogilvy and Mather as
its first agency network in the Asia-Pacific region (PR Week, 26
September).
Nokia has recognised the importance of building its brand in an
increasingly competitive market.
The Helsinki-based company is now Europe’s largest mobile phone maker
and is the second largest in the world after US firm Motorola. It has 25
per cent of the UK market.
Sales of Nokia’s mobile phones increased by 53 per cent in the first
half of 1997 due to a growth in sales of its digital products.
Jorma Ollila, president and chief executive of Nokia, said: ’The success
of our product range and brand building efforts led to strong demand in
all major markets.’
