Shell Chemicals in London has initiated a review of its global marketing account and will hear presentations this week from four U.S. agencies teamed with London-area shops to pursue the business.
Ann Iverson, owner of Creating Selling Opportunities in Houston, is assisting Shell Chemicals with the search. She said agencies pitching the account are: The Focus Agency, Dallas, in conjunction with Maher Bird; BBDO South, Atlanta, with Clarke Hooper Consulting; Ketchum Advertising, Pittsburgh, with TBWA Payne Stracey; and Bates Southwest, Houston, with Bates Dorland.
Iverson would not say whether U.S. incumbent Black Rogers Sullivan Goodnight in Houston would be affected by the review. BRSG picked up the account through an acquisition of Houston business-to-business agency MDR in 1990.
The U.S. account was estimated at $5-7 million when it was placed in review last year. That review was postponed last September, with Shell executives citing a “globalization effort and the possible consolidation of work in various locations” as a contributing factor. At that time Shell representative Eydie Pengelly told Adweek, “We want to accurately portray the scope of the account to all agencies involved in the process, and we don’t have a [clear] picture at this point.”
Iverson would not say whether the expanded nature of the account would lead to larger billings from Shell. She also did not divulge a target date for a decision, but said the client would award the account “as soon as possible” after presentations conclude this week in London.
Shell Chemicals manufactures a variety of products used in consumer goods. It is a supplier of Kraton, a substance used in Ray-Ban sunglasses, and Neodol, an ingredient of products like Tide laundry detergent.
Bates, Focus Are in Shell Chase
