Westfield wait is over

By IRENE CHAPPLE

The final chapter of the year's weirdest pitch closed this week, as Westfield New Zealand appointed Revolution Advertising.

Revolution was not part of the original pitch, which was called in March and involved agencies Foote Cone & Belding, Young & Rubicam, Publicis Mojo and incumbent Singleton Ogilvy & Mather.

Westfield has been promising an announcement since, but none came. The departure of marketing manager Grace Tsang appeared to hold things up even more.

Last month, irritated with how the agency had been treated and what he saw as a waste of $25,000 to take part, FCB chief executive Greg Eichmann said his firm no longer wanted to deal with Westfield.

Others involved in the pitch expressed surprise that it was still live. Singleton Ogilvy & Mather's managing director, John Wilde, refused to comment.

Linda Round, Westfield's marketing manager, said the decision had been difficult, "not only due to the high standards of presentation, but also due to the recent changes of marketing/management staff at Westfield".

* GeneratorBates and RobbinsBrandRichter have been appointed the agencies for Tower's insurance, health and life and managed funds business, bumping incumbent Young & Rubicam.