Stolichnaya's search for a new global creative agency appears to be down to, well, the last round.
The process began in February and last month four contenders emerged: McCann Erickson, Taxi, Berlin Cameron United and Ammirati. In the last week or so, those shops have made presentations to client executives; They now await either a decision or a cut. Global spending on the brand is estimated at $15 million.
The winner will succeed Ogilvy & Mather, who is not defending. Ogilvy's New York office has handled the business since 2008.
Ogilvy's most recent TV and print campaign, which broke last year in the U.S., featured celebrities such as Hugh Hefner and Biz Stone, each seated next to earlier, less polished versions of himself.
In a print ad, a "nerd of the year" version of Stone, for example, meets up with the more current "Twitter pioneer." The ad asks the question, "Would you have a drink with you?" The tagline is, "Lead on."
Stoli is owned by SPI Group and distributed in the U.S. by William Grant & Sons. Other SPI brands include Beaufond cognac, Mia Bella liqueurs and Rigas sparkling wine.
A William Grant representative acknowledged the review but declined to answer questions about the contenders and spending.
