Can’t say we didn’t see this coming. Two weeks after its spinoff fashion shoe line Onitsuka Tiger handed a global assignment and U.S. AOR duties to California-based shop Pitch, Asics has announced its own search for a lead global creative agency. According to Campaign, the changeover won’t officially take place until after the brand finishes up its efforts for the 2012 Olympics in London. Asics’ current agency roster including Vitro (which handles U.S. efforts), Dentsu (Asia/Japan) and 180 Amsterdam (2012 Olympics project) are all currently involved in meetings regarding the review here in the States. Check out one of Vitro’s niftier efforts for Asics above.
Update: According to sources familiar with the matter, the three-year AOR contracts that Asics signed with Vitro and the other aforementioned agencies are expiring, hence the global review launch. We’ve been told that all agencies involved are re-pitching and it’s not a matter of Asics wanting to make a break and look elsewhere.