UOB to Starcom

Singapore - United Overseas Bank (UOB) has moved its $14 million media account from Universal McCann to Starcom Media without a pitch.

UOB has consolidated its advertising arrangements with the Publicis Group, as Saatchi & Saatchi already handles the company’s creative business. Starcom begins work on the account on 1 October.

Gan Boon Guan, Starcom Media Singapore CEO, said “we're definitely excited about working on the account”.

“This was really about the team and the experience of the team which has got us the business,” he said.

Gaurav Bhasin, CEO of Universal McCann, confirmed his agency no longer works with UOB, but declined to give any further details.

According to Adex figures, UOB spent $13.6 million on main media advertising in 2007.

In other Starcom Media Singapore news, the agency has made three appointments with Rajesh Mahtani joining from MindShare Singapore in the position of executive strategic solutions, while Patricia Goh has been hired from MindShare as a director and Jane Soetiono as account manager.