TPG Telecom consolidates commercial marketing under Rob Holmes, Saatchi & Saatchi primed for Vodafone creative account

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TPG Telecom consolidates commercial marketing under Rob Holmes, Saatchi & Saatchi primed for Vodafone creative account

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Tags: Vodafone creative pitch Creative agencies Saatchi & Saatchi Publicis Groupe

TPG marketer Rob Holmes has assumed the GM Marketing role across the group, with Vodafone counterpart Adam Slattery exiting the business. The firm declined to confirm Saatchi & Saatchi has won the Vodafone creative account, though Mi3 understands that to be the case.

What you need to know:

Perth-based TPG marketer Rob Homes assumes broader group remit, reporting into CMO John Casey.
Vodafone marketer Adam Slattery exits.
Saatchi & Saatchi understood to have won Vodafone creative account, telco declined to confirm.
Publicis-owned firm would become Vodafone's eighth creative agency in 14 years.

TPG marketer Rob Holmes has assumed the GM Marketing role across Vodafone following the merger between the two. Meanwhile Saatchi & Saatchi is understood to have won the creative account, though the telco insisted that process is still ongoing.

The marketing reshuffle follows Vodafone Hutchison Australia and TPG’s $15bn merger in 2020. Vodafone General Manager Brand, Marketing & Commercial Strategy, Adam Slattery has exited the business as a result. Holmes, who operates out of Perth, becomes General Manager Commercial Marketing reporting to CMO John Casey.

TPG Telecom confirmed the shake-up. “Adam has been a valued member of the TPG Telecom business and we wish him all the best for the future,” a spokesperson told Mi3.

The company would not confirm the creative account has been awarded to Saatchi & Saatchi, stating the selection process "is continuing" with an announcement to come “in due course.”.

The Publicis-owned agency declined to comment but Mi3 understands Saatchis has won the business following a pitch that commenced towards the end of 2021.

VMLY&R said in October it would not be involved in the pitch after being appointed a year and a half earlier. 303 MullenLowe is understood to have been handling the business in the interim.

Saatchi & Saatchi can be under few illusions as to what is required within a brand-agency relationship that has been viewed as attritional. It would become the eighth creative agency to service Vodafone in 14 years.

Since 2008, Vodafone’s ads have been delivered by Clemenger, Host, Ogilvy, Cummins and Partners, JWT, VMLY&R, plus MullenLowe’s interim stint.

Agencies vying for the business were originally understood to be pitching ideas and strategic concepts, with Vodafone paying a fee and then seeking to deliver on a project basis, but it appears to have reverted to a more standard retainer arrangement.